Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
★ The Verdict
Buy the Bambino Plus. Same heating and pressure as the base Bambino for $200 more, but you get the automatic steam wand and a nicer build with less plastic. And even if you drink straight espresso like I do, it earns its price the first time guests want lattes. Skip the Barista Express unless you truly have zero counter space for a separate grinder.
Three machines. One brand. Three very different owners.
I’ve pulled a shot on my Bambino Plus every morning since 2020. Before buying it I agonized over this exact comparison for weeks. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I wasted all that time.
The short answer
All three pull nearly identical espresso. Same 54mm portafilter. Same 9 bars of pressure. The two Bambinos share Breville’s ThermoJet heating. The Barista Express runs the older Thermocoil system, which is why it heats slower. But the shot in your cup tastes the same across all three.
So the shot is a wash. The differences are everything around it. Steaming. Grinding. Counter space. Workflow. That’s where the $400 spread actually lives.
Breville Bambino ($299)
The smallest and cheapest. Heats in 3 seconds. Pulls a real shot.
Then you get to the steam wand. It’s manual. Steaming milk well takes weeks of practice, and you will pour some sad, flat, bubbly lattes while you learn.
It wins one thing outright. Hot water. The base Bambino has a dedicated button for it, one press for americanos or tea. The Plus makes you hold a button combo to get the same water. Small thing. You feel it every morning if americanos are your drink.
Who it’s for: straight espresso and americano drinkers. If milk isn’t in your cup, save the $200 and never think about it again.
Breville Bambino Plus ($499)
The automatic steam wand is the headline. Pick your milk temperature and texture. Press a button. Walk away. It textures the milk hands-free.
Here’s the honest version of how that works. The machine does one thing at a time. It pulls the shot, heats up to steam, then purges itself back down for the next one. You’re not brewing and steaming in the same breath. But the steam runs on its own, so you press it and get on with your morning.
The wand isn’t the only thing the extra $200 buys. The Plus adds a three-way solenoid valve that dumps the pressure the second the shot ends. Your puck comes out dry, not soupy. Knock it into the bin and nothing sprays. The tank is bigger too, 64 ounces against the base model’s 47. And the tamper is steel, not plastic.
6am. Two kids about to wake up. I pull the shot, hit steam, and wipe down the counter while the wand does the milk. This is not a luxury. It’s the difference between a real latte and no latte.
This is the machine I use daily. Years in, zero regrets.
Most days I pull singles, not doubles. Less coffee in the basket, less caffeine, fewer jitters, more espressos across the day. Parent math. Both machines come with single and double baskets, so you can do this on either one.
Who it’s for: anyone who drinks milk drinks and values their morning minutes. Most people, honestly.
Breville Barista Express ($699)
A semi-automatic with a built-in grinder in one chassis. It runs Breville’s older Thermocoil heating, not the Bambino’s ThermoJet.
Sounds efficient. Here’s the problem. The built-in grinder is fine, not great. When it dulls, you can’t replace just the grinder. When you outgrow it, you can’t upgrade it. You bought a package deal, and the package is the ceiling.
A Bambino Plus with a separate Breville Pro grinder costs about the same. It grinds better, cleans easier, and lets you upgrade either piece later.
It also makes switching coffees painless. Single dose it, run it empty, load something new, and you’re on a different roast in seconds. A built-in hopper keeps you married to whatever beans are sitting in it. If you like trying new coffees, and you should, separate wins.
Who it’s for: people with genuinely no counter space for two devices. That’s the only case.
Comparison table
| Bambino | Bambino PlusRecommended | Barista Express | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $499 | $699 |
| Heat-up | 3 sec | 3 sec | ~30-45 sec |
| Steam wand | Manual | Automatic | Manual |
| Solenoid valve* | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water tank | 47 oz | 64 oz | 67 oz |
| Tamper | Plastic | Steel | Integrated |
| Pressure | 9 bar | 9 bar | 9 bar |
| Grinder | None | None | Built-in |
| Best for | Espresso only | Most people | Tight counters |
*A solenoid valve is an electrically controlled switch that regulates water and pressure flow inside the machine. It directs water to the group head, releases residual brew pressure after the shot, and keeps the puck dry for a mess-free cleanup.
Bottom line
Bambino if you never touch milk. Bambino Plus for everyone else. Barista Express only if two devices truly won’t fit.
Spend real money on the grinder either way. It matters more than the machine, and it’s the one lesson most people learn a beat too late.
Which one are you leaning toward, or did you already buy one of these and learn the hard way?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bambino Plus worth $200 more than the Bambino?
Only if milk drinks are in the picture. If you drink straight espresso, you don't need it. But think about the whole household. If anyone drinks lattes or cappuccinos, or you host people who do, the automatic steam wand earns the $200. I pull espresso 99% of the time and I still keep it around for guests.
Is the Barista Express better because it has a built-in grinder?
No. The built-in grinder is the Barista Express's weakness, not its strength. When the grinder wears out or you want to upgrade, you're stuck. A separate machine and grinder gives you a better grind, easier cleaning, and an upgrade path.
Which Breville espresso machine is best for beginners?
The Bambino Plus. It heats in 3 seconds, pulls consistent shots with minimal learning curve, and the automatic steam wand removes the hardest beginner skill. Pair it with a Breville Pro grinder and you have a complete setup under $800.
Do all three machines pull the same quality espresso?
Essentially yes. The two Bambinos use Breville's ThermoJet heating. The Barista Express uses the older Thermocoil system, which heats slower but pulls a comparable shot. All three share the 54mm portafilter and 9 bars of pressure. The espresso quality difference is minimal. The differences are in steaming, grinding, and workflow.