Breville Researched
Bambino Plus
The easiest path to genuinely good espresso and hands-free milk in a tiny footprint.
BeginnersSmall kitchens
$500Read review →Buy
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
8.1
BrewSift Score
Excellent
$699.95
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Should you buy it?
Buy it if
- All-in-one starters
- Value seekers
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- Manual steam wand teaches real technique
Skip it if
- Built-in grinder is good, not great
- Single boiler (wait between shot & steam)
- 54mm basket
Not for you? Consider the Breville Bambino Plus — or see all espresso machines .
The verdict
A conical burr grinder, dose control, manual steam wand, and 54mm portafilter make this the default first machine for a reason. You learn real espresso skills (grinding, dosing, steaming) at a fair price. A dedicated grinder beats the built-in one, but the convenience and value are hard to argue with.
BrewSift Score breakdown
Scored across the dimensions that matter for espresso. The overall is a weighted average — see the formula.
Espresso quality8.0
Milk-drink workflow7.6
Ease of use8.6
Temperature stability8.0
Build quality7.8
Cleaning & maintenance7.4
Value8.8
Pros & cons
What we like
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- Manual steam wand teaches real technique
- Great value all-in-one
Watch-outs
- Built-in grinder is good, not great
- Single boiler (wait between shot & steam)
- 54mm basket
Specifications
- Portafilter
- 54mm
- Grinder
- Built-in conical burr
- Boiler
- Single, ThermoCoil
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
From the journal
Where the Barista Express comes up in our guides.
Complete your setup
The gear that pairs with the Barista Express 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.
$200Buy
Add a scale
Hario
V60 Drip Scale (VST-2000B)
Weighing your dose and yield is what makes a good cup repeatable, shot after shot.
$59Buy
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.
$44Buy
Compare it head-to-head
Alternatives to consider
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Gaggia Researched
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A 58mm commercial-style machine that teaches real espresso and welcomes modifications.
Learning real espressoTinkerers
$501Read review →Buy
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
$449Read review →Buy
Breville Researched
Bambino
The Bambino Plus's cheaper sibling — same fast heat-up and tiny footprint, with a manual steam wand.
Smallest footprintBudget espresso + manual milk
$300Read review →Buy
DeLonghi Researched
Dedica Arte EC885
A genuinely slim, genuinely cheap entry into real (if modest) espresso with a steam wand.
Tight budgetsNarrow counters
$150Read review →Buy