Breville Researched
Bambino Plus
The easiest path to genuinely good espresso and hands-free milk in a tiny footprint.
BeginnersSmall kitchens
Breville Bambino
The Bambino Plus's cheaper sibling — same fast heat-up and tiny footprint, with a manual steam wand.
ResearchedSmallest footprintBudget espresso + manual milk
8.0
BrewSift Score
Excellent
$249.95
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Should you buy it?
Buy it if
- Smallest footprint
- Budget espresso + manual milk
- 3-second heat-up
- Tiny footprint
Skip it if
- Manual (not automatic) milk
- No built-in grinder
- 54mm basket
Not for you? Consider the Breville Bambino Plus — or see all espresso machines .
The verdict
Drops the automatic milk texturing of the Bambino Plus but keeps the 3-second ThermoJet heater, 54mm portafilter, and pint-sized footprint. The cheapest way into genuinely capable Breville espresso if you don't mind steaming milk yourself.
BrewSift Score breakdown
Scored across the dimensions that matter for espresso. The overall is a weighted average — see the formula.
Espresso quality8.2
Milk-drink workflow7.0
Ease of use8.4
Temperature stability8.0
Build quality7.6
Cleaning & maintenance8.2
Value8.8
Pros & cons
What we like
- 3-second heat-up
- Tiny footprint
- Great espresso for the price
Watch-outs
- Manual (not automatic) milk
- No built-in grinder
- 54mm basket
Specifications
- Portafilter
- 54mm
- Boiler
- ThermoJet (single)
- Heat-up
- ~3 sec
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
From the journal
Where the Bambino comes up in our guides.
Complete your setup
The gear that pairs with the Bambino to make a complete, working setup.
Add a grinder
Baratza
Encore ESP
Grind consistency does more for the cup than almost any other purchase — a burr grinder is what makes good gear actually taste good.
$199.95Buy
Add a scale
Hario
V60 Drip Scale (VST-2000B)
Weighing your dose and yield is what makes a good cup repeatable, shot after shot.
$49.5Buy
Add prep tools
Normcore
58.5mm Spring-Loaded Tamper
A WDT tool and a properly sized tamper kill channeling — the cheapest fix for sour, uneven shots.
$42.99Buy
Compare it head-to-head
Read the rival's review:Breville Bambino Plus
Alternatives to consider
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Breville Researched
Barista Express
The classic all-in-one: built-in grinder, manual wand, everything you need to start in one box.
All-in-one startersValue seekers
Gaggia Researched
Classic Evo Pro
A 58mm commercial-style machine that teaches real espresso and welcomes modifications.
Learning real espressoTinkerers
DeLonghi Researched
La Specialista Arte EC9155
An affordable all-in-one with a built-in grinder, guided tamping, and a real steam wand.
All-in-one under $500Hands-on beginners
DeLonghi Researched
Dedica Arte EC885
A genuinely slim, genuinely cheap entry into real (if modest) espresso with a steam wand.
Tight budgetsNarrow counters