Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus
Short answer: Buy the Bambino Plus if you want good coffee fast; buy the Gaggia Classic Pro if learning espresso is the point. The Gaggia costs about $100 more at current prices and both score 84 for espresso quality here, so this is mostly a choice of philosophy, not budget. The Gaggia is a steel-bodied, Italian-made machine with a 58mm commercial portafilter, a three-way solenoid valve and a manual steam wand, and a huge modding community behind it; it rewards technique and demands it. The Bambino Plus heats in about 3 seconds, steams milk automatically, and is the far easier daily machine.
Updated
Part of our guide to the best espresso machines.
Head to headHighest overall score: Breville Bambino Plus (7.8 vs 8.5) — but pick by how you brew.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.8/ 10 | 8.5/ 10 Higher |
| Price | $508.01approx.Checked 2026-10-09 | $399.95approx.Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Get it for | learning real espresso, build & longevity, modding & upgrade path | ease & speed, hands-free milk drinks |
| Portafilter | 58mm commercial | 54mm |
| Boiler | Single, aluminium | ThermoJet (single) |
| Milk | Manual steam wand | Automatic steam wand |
| AmazonFull review of Gaggia Classic Evo Pro | AmazonFull review of Breville Bambino Plus |
Prices are approximate; use the listing for the current offer.
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Approximate — verify the latest price
BrewSift earns a commission on some purchases. It never changes our scores. Why you can trust us
Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus: which wins for you
A 58mm commercial portafilter and a manual steam wand teach proper technique, and the 58mm size opens up commercial baskets and tampers.
Breville states a 3-second heat-up, and the milk steams itself. It scores 92 for ease of use here against the Gaggia's 66.
Solid steel housing, made in Italy, and a machine owners repair rather than replace. It scores 82 for build quality here against 78.
The automatic wand textures milk to 3 temperatures and 3 foam levels. It scores 86 for milk workflow here against the Gaggia's 70.
PID, OPV and flow-control kits are popular upgrades, so the machine can grow with your skill instead of being replaced.
Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus: score by dimension
BrewSift sub-scores for espresso. The longer bar wins each row; equal scores are both highlighted.
Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus: specs side by side
Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus: the bottom line
Buy the Bambino Plus if you want good coffee fast; buy the Gaggia Classic Pro if learning espresso is the point. If you just want the stronger all-rounder, the Breville Bambino Plus edges it on our overall score (7.8 vs 8.5).
More comparisons in espresso machines
Other matchups we have run side by side, same scoring, same spec sheet.
Common questions
Is the Gaggia Classic Pro or the Bambino Plus better for a beginner?
The Bambino Plus, for most beginners. It heats in about 3 seconds, steams milk automatically, and scores 92 for ease of use here against the Gaggia's 66. The Gaggia suits a particular kind of beginner: someone who wants to learn espresso as a craft, does not mind a learning curve, and may want to modify the machine later.
Which makes better espresso?
On our scores they tie at 84 for espresso quality, but they get there differently. The Bambino Plus is consistent out of the box thanks to its fast ThermoJet heater and pre-infusion. The Gaggia has the higher ceiling: its 58mm commercial portafilter takes bigger doses and precision baskets, and a PID upgrade tightens its temperature. Without mods and technique, the Gaggia's shots are less forgiving.
Does the Gaggia Classic Pro have temperature control?
Not a PID out of the box. It has a single boiler without PID control, so many owners temperature surf, meaning run a little water before the shot to hit the right window. That is why it scores 74 for temperature stability here against the Bambino Plus's 82, and why an aftermarket PID kit is a popular Gaggia upgrade.
Which is better for milk drinks?
The Bambino Plus. Its automatic wand textures milk hands-free, and it scores 86 for milk workflow here. The Gaggia's commercial-style wand can make excellent microfoam once you learn it, but it is manual and has slower steam recovery, so back-to-back milk drinks take longer. It scores 70 for milk workflow here.
Which Gaggia Classic Pro is this?
The listing we link is the Gaggia RI9380 Classic Evo Pro, which Gaggia describes with a solid steel housing, a 58mm stainless commercial portafilter, a commercial three-way solenoid valve and an uncoated aluminium boiler, made in Italy. Gaggia North America now also sells a Classic Pro E24 revision with a lead-free brass boiler. Check the model number on any listing before you buy.
Do I need a grinder with either machine?
Yes, with both. Neither has a built-in grinder, and both reward a burr grinder that reaches espresso fineness. The Gaggia is less forgiving of a weak grinder than the Bambino Plus, so budget for the grinder first if you choose it.
Which is smaller?
The Bambino Plus, just. It is under 8 inches wide, while Gaggia North America lists its current Classic Pro at 8 inches wide, 9.5 deep and 14.2 tall. Both fit under standard wall cabinets; the bigger difference is that the Gaggia's steel body and 58mm group make it the heavier, more substantial machine.
Breville Bambino Plus
$399.95