Comparison · Prices checked
Breville Bambino vs. Breville Bambino Plus
By Iris Calder · Updated · What changed
These are the two most-mentioned machines in the r/espresso buying threads we sampled, and they are closer than the price gap suggests. Per Breville’s spec pages, both use the ThermoJet heater, electronic (PID) temperature control, a 54 mm portafilter and low-pressure pre-infusion. The Plus adds a hands-free automatic steam wand and a larger water tank. We compiled this from Breville’s pages and retailer listings; we have not pulled shots on either.
Semi-automatic
Breville Bambino
$300
The Bambino Plus without the automatic milk wand. A sensible budget base if you are happy to steam milk by hand.
Choose it if
- You are happy to learn to steam milk by hand, or mostly drink espresso
- You want the lowest-cost machine we would pair with a real grinder
- The money saved goes toward a better grinder
Semi-automatic
Breville Bambino Plus
$500
The easiest way into real milk drinks: it heats in seconds and the automatic wand textures milk for you. Pair it with a capable grinder and it punches well above its price.
Choose it if
- You mostly drink lattes and cappuccinos
- You want milk texturing to work without practice
- Several people share it and want the same result each time
Prices as of Oct 27, 2026; they may have changed, so check the retailer. Links may become affiliate links; as of launch none are. Disclosure.
Specs side by side.
| Spec | Bambino | Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $500 |
| Heating | ThermoJet heater | ThermoJet heater |
| Temperature control | Electronic (PID) | Electronic (PID) |
| Warm-up | About 6 s · per Seattle Coffee Gear | About 16 s · per Seattle Coffee Gear |
| Pump | Vibration pump | Vibration pump |
| Steaming | Good, manual wand | Strong, automatic milk |
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm |
| Footprint | Small | Small |
| Skill level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Retailers listed | 2 | 3 |
| Spec sources | Specs from the maker | A few specs unconfirmed |
| Steam wand (per Breville) | Manual steam wand | Automatic: 3 milk temperatures × 3 textures, plus manual |
| Water tank (per Breville) | 47 fl oz | 64 fl oz (1.9 L) |
| Weight (per Breville) | 10.42 lb | 10.91 lb |
| Warm-up claimed by Breville | 3 s | 3 s |
| Good for milk drinks | Yes | Yes |
| Fits a small counter | Yes | Yes |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Room to upgrade | No | No |
Specs come from manufacturer pages, checked against retailer listings on Oct 27, 2026. They may contain errors, so confirm with the manufacturer before you buy. How we source specs.
Verdict
Which should you buy?
If milk drinks are the point and you do not want to learn steaming, the Bambino Plus is worth the difference. If you drink mostly espresso, or you are fine practicing with a manual wand, buy the Bambino and put the savings into the grinder, which matters more for taste. Either way, budget for a capable grinder.
Grinders we would pair
-
With either machine
Turin DF64 Gen 2 ($354) or Option-O LAGOM mini 2 ($379)
Hot water: no separate spout on either
Neither Bambino has a dedicated hot-water spout. Both run hot water through the steam wand, which matters if you drink americanos or like to preheat cups.
- Bambino: it has a Hot Water button. Breville’s manual describes it as a hot water outlet via the steam wand, for americanos and preheating cups.
- Bambino Plus: there is no hot-water button. Breville’s instruction book says to lift the steam wand and press the 1 CUP and MILK FOAM buttons together; press 1 CUP again to stop. Breville’s product page lists only shot buttons and steam on the Plus’s interface, against “steam and hot water” on the Bambino.
Breville’s manuals put the water at about 90 °C (194 °F). If a separate hot-water tap matters to you, neither machine has one.
What owners report about the automatic milk
The Plus’s automatic mode relies on a temperature sensor under the milk jug: Breville’s instruction book says the jug must rest on the sensor on the drip tray, and lists a badly placed jug as the first thing to check when milk comes out too hot. Espresso Aficionados, the community guide linked from r/espresso, calls it a robust automatic steaming wand. Owners also report problems with it:
- Sensor failures. An r/espresso owner reported the milk sensor failing after a little over two years, after which the machine’s lights all blink and it can’t be used normally. The replacement part named in that thread, Breville SP0024796, is listed by parts sellers as an NTC assembly for Bambino Plus (BES500) models.
- Milk boiling or not foaming. Another owner reported that after about two weeks the automatic mode started boiling the milk, even on the lowest temperature, with no foam, and asked r/espresso whether to send the machine back for a replacement. A separate owner’s r/espresso thread recommends cleaning out the steam wand nozzle when auto-frothing misbehaves.
These are individual owner reports, not failure or return rates. We have no data on how often this happens, and we have not used either machine. If automatic milk is the reason you are paying the extra $200, buy from a shop with an easy return policy and keep the steam tip clean. The Bambino has no milk sensor to fail, because its wand is manual.
Questions
What does the Bambino Plus add over the Bambino?
Per Breville’s spec pages, the Plus adds an automatic steam wand with three milk temperatures and three textures (it can also be used manually) and a bigger water tank: 64 fl oz against 47 fl oz. The heater, temperature control and 54 mm portafilter are the same.
Do they make the same espresso?
On paper the brewing side is the same: ThermoJet heater, electronic temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54 mm portafilter. We have not compared shots side by side, so we cannot promise identical results, but the specs give no reason to expect a difference.
Which is better if I mostly drink lattes?
The Bambino Plus. Its automatic wand textures milk without technique, which is the whole point of the extra money. The Bambino’s manual wand can make good milk too, but it takes practice.
Which grinder should I pair with either one?
One that can genuinely grind for espresso. At about $500 all-in, our quiz pairs the Bambino with the 1Zpresso J-Ultra or KINGrinder K6 (hand grinders) or the Fellow Opus 2 (electric). Our ready-made “easy first setup” puts the Bambino Plus with the Baratza Encore ESP. With more to spend, the grinders listed above suit either machine.
Is the $200 difference worth it?
Only if automatic milk matters to you. If it does not, $200 toward the grinder improves every cup, while the Plus’s extras only help milk drinks.
Does the Bambino have a hot water function?
Yes, through the steam wand. The Bambino has a Hot Water button that runs hot water out of the steam wand, per Breville. The Bambino Plus has no hot-water button: Breville’s instruction book says to press 1 CUP and MILK FOAM together, and the water comes out of the steam wand. Neither has a separate hot-water spout.
Sources
Specs from the manufacturers' pages; prices from the retailer listings below, read on Oct 27, 2026. We compiled these; we have not used both machines side by side.
- Breville Bambino: manufacturer page (specs)
- Breville Bambino Plus: manufacturer page (specs)
- Breville Bambino Plus: Seattle Coffee Gear listing (price, checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Breville Bambino Plus: Whole Latte Love listing (price, checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Turin DF64 Gen 2: manufacturer page (specs)
- Option-O LAGOM mini 2: manufacturer page (specs)