Breville Bambino Plus vs Bambino
Short answer: The only meaningful difference is milk, so buy the Bambino Plus if you want lattes without learning to steam, and save the money on the Bambino if you will learn the wand or mostly drink espresso. Breville gives both the same brewing core: a ThermoJet heater that reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds, a 54mm portafilter, a 15-bar pump and low-pressure pre-infusion into 9-bar extraction. The Plus adds an automatic steam wand with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings; the standard Bambino has a manual wand and a slightly narrower body.
Updated
Part of our guide to the best espresso machines.
Head to headHighest overall score: Breville Bambino Plus (8.5 vs 8.0) — but pick by how you brew.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5/ 10 Higher | 8.0/ 10 |
| Price | $399.95approx.Checked 2026-10-09 | $249.95approx.Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Get it for | easiest milk drinks, latte art for beginners | lowest price, smallest footprint, mostly straight espresso |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Boiler | ThermoJet (single) | ThermoJet (single) |
| Heat-up | ~3 sec | ~3 sec |
| Milk | Automatic steam wand | Manual steam wand |
| AmazonFull review of Breville Bambino Plus | AmazonFull review of Breville Bambino |
Prices are approximate; use the listing for the current offer.
What the extra money buys — The Bambino Plus costs about $150 more than the standard Bambino. The only meaningful thing that buys is milk: automatic, hands-free texturing with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings, and a manual option when you want it. The heater, portafilter and pre-infusion are the same on both, and the Bambino is the narrower machine, so if you will learn to steam or mostly drink espresso the cheaper Bambino gives up nothing else.
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Breville Bambino Plus vs Bambino: which wins for you
The automatic steam wand textures milk to 3 temperature and 3 texture settings, per Breville. It scores 86 for milk workflow here against the Bambino's 70.
About $150 less for the same ThermoJet heater, 54mm portafilter and pre-infusion. It scores 88 for value here against 86.
Breville lists the Bambino at 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 inches against the Plus's 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3, so it is over an inch narrower and a little shorter.
The shot hardware is the same on both, so if you rarely steam milk the Plus's automatic wand is money spent on a feature you will not use.
Automatic texturing gives repeatable microfoam from the first day, so you can practise the pour rather than the steaming. It still has a manual option once you want control.
Breville Bambino Plus vs Bambino: score by dimension
BrewSift sub-scores for espresso. The longer bar wins each row; equal scores are both highlighted.
Breville Bambino Plus vs Bambino: specs side by side
Breville Bambino Plus vs Bambino: the bottom line
The only meaningful difference is milk, so buy the Bambino Plus if you want lattes without learning to steam, and save the money on the Bambino if you will learn the wand or mostly drink espresso. If you just want the stronger all-rounder, the Breville Bambino Plus edges it on our overall score (8.5 vs 8.0).
More comparisons in espresso machines
Other matchups we have run side by side, same scoring, same spec sheet.
Common questions
What is the difference between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus?
The steam wand. The Bambino Plus has an automatic wand that textures milk to one of 3 temperatures and 3 foam levels while you step away, and it comes with a 16 oz (480ml) jug. The standard Bambino has a manual wand, so you control the texture yourself. Breville gives both the same 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, 54mm portafilter, 15-bar pump and low-pressure pre-infusion.
Is the Bambino Plus worth the extra money?
If you drink milk drinks most days and do not want to learn to steam, yes. The Plus costs about $150 more and that money buys hands-free, repeatable milk, which is why it scores 86 for milk workflow here against the Bambino's 70. If you mostly drink espresso or Americanos, or you enjoy learning the wand, the Bambino gives up nothing on the shot and scores slightly higher for value.
Do the Bambino and Bambino Plus make the same espresso?
Essentially yes. Breville lists the same ThermoJet heater, 54mm portafilter, single and dual wall baskets, 15-bar pump and 9-bar extraction after low-pressure pre-infusion on both. The Plus scores slightly higher for espresso quality here, 84 against 82, but that gap is small next to the difference a good grinder makes on either machine.
Can you steam milk manually on the Bambino Plus?
Yes. Breville lists a manual steam option on the Bambino Plus alongside the automatic setting, so you can start with automatic milk and switch to steaming by hand as your technique improves. That makes the Plus the more flexible of the two, rather than a machine that locks you out of learning.
Which one is smaller?
The standard Bambino. Breville lists it at 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 inches and the Bambino Plus at 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches. Neither has a bean hopper on top, so both fit under standard wall cabinets.
Do either of them have a built-in grinder?
No. Neither Bambino has a grinder, so budget for a burr grinder that reaches espresso fineness alongside whichever you buy. Both ship with dual wall baskets that are forgiving with pre-ground coffee, but the single wall baskets and fresh grinding are where either machine does its best work.
Breville Bambino Plus
$399.95