The catch
Breville Bambino
You have to supply your own espresso-capable grinder.
Side by side
Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus compared: Bambino leaves milk to you, while the Plus textures it automatically
Quick verdict
For automatic milk, consistent results and quick cleanup, the Bambino Plus makes the better first machine. The regular Bambino is the pick if you care more about steaming everything by hand and having simpler controls.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The catch
Breville Bambino Plus
You will still buy a grinder separately.
Breville Bambino
- Why pick it
- Learning to texture milk by hand is the goal
- You have a milk thermometer or like to practice
- The catch
- You have to supply your own espresso-capable grinder.
Breville Bambino Plus
- Why pick it
- You want the same milk temperature and texture every time
- People of different skill levels will all be using it
- The catch
- You will still buy a grinder separately.
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What this page compares
Two very different ways of handling milk, built on the same compact idea.
This one comes down to milk and body width first, then to the limits of your own setup.
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
The latte is still unfinished when the three-second claim ends
Picture a parent making a latte between breakfast chores. The Plus saves them from standing there to texture the milk by hand. Either machine still needs a prepared puck, an extraction, a milk jug and cleanup. Go with the Plus if milk is the awkward part of your routine. The regular Bambino still makes sense if you like that step or mostly drink straight espresso.
Where this comes from
The advertised three-second ThermoJet system is on both machines. It describes how soon the heater is ready, not how long grinding, brewing and making a milk drink take.
There can still be room to learn with automatic milk
One person can pick an automatic texture on the Plus while another practices manual steaming, so two people can use it in different ways. That makes buying the regular Bambino just to keep hands-on milk preparation unnecessary. It makes a stronger case for a household that expects to steam manually every time. On neither machine do the single- and double-shot buttons pick a grind setting or prepare the puck for you.
Where this comes from
On the Plus, Breville expressly documents both automatic and manual milk operation. Both machines have a 54 mm portafilter and volumetric shot controls, and those automate a different stage of the drink.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I'd rather be guided than guess
Common beginner mistakes get corrected by on-screen prompts, dose feedback or a workflow that forgives errors.
- Breville Bambino
- Good
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Better fit
I want milk textured automatically
Breville Bambino lists “Manual steam wand” for milk, while Breville Bambino Plus lists “Automatic or manual sensor wand”. For milk, this decides how many steps you handle yourself and how much of the routine runs on its own.
- Breville Bambino
- Depends
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Better fit
I would rather dose, tamp and steam by hand
With a portafilter and manual controls, you stay in charge of puck preparation or milk texturing.
- Breville Bambino
- Better fit
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Good
I want to work on my latte art
The steam system makes microfoam you can adjust, so you are not limited to a fixed foam.
- Breville Bambino
- Better fit
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Good
Good straight espresso matters most to me
More room to dial in a shot comes from the portafilter, dosing range and extraction controls.
- Breville Bambino
- Better fit
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Depends
I want fewer stray grounds and spills when tamping
More grounds stay off the counter with internal dosing, assisted tamping or contained grinding.
- Breville Bambino
- Depends
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Better fit
Option A
Breville, BES450BSS
Bambino
Learn espresso and milk texture on a very narrow portafilter machine that has a three-second heater and a manual wand.
- Best for
- Learning to texture milk by hand is the goal
Facts we checked
- Milk: Manual steam wand
- Body width: 6.3 inches
- Daily workflow: Manual milk judgment
- The steam wand is manual, and ThermoJet is advertised as ready in three seconds
Option B
Breville, BES500BSS
Bambino Plus
This compact ThermoJet machine lets you keep a portafilter workflow while it takes care of milk temperature and texture.
- Best for
- You want the same milk temperature and texture every time
Facts we checked
- Milk: Automatic or manual sensor wand
- Body width: About 7.7 inches
- Daily workflow: Three temperatures and three textures
- Automatic milk temperatures and textures, plus three-second ThermoJet heating
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Breville Bambino | Breville Bambino Plus | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | Manual steam wand | Automatic or manual sensor wand | For milk, this decides how many steps you handle yourself and how much of the routine runs on its own. |
| Body width | 6.3 inches | About 7.7 inches | Fit can be a hard limit, so measure your space and mounting points before anything else. |
| Daily workflow | Manual milk judgment | Three temperatures and three textures | For daily workflow, this decides how many steps you handle yourself and how much of the routine runs on its own. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Breville Bambino
- You cannot brew and steam at once, and you texture the milk entirely by hand.
With Breville Bambino Plus
- Extraction and steaming still run in sequence, and the automatic wand purges into a small drip tray.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the espresso machines we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino |
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| Breville Bambino Plus |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Breville Bambino
Learning to texture milk by hand is the goal
See price & reviews on AmazonBreville Bambino Plus
You want the same milk temperature and texture every time
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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