Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Which should you buy?
At $499, the Bambino Plus is Breville’s step-up from the $299 Bambino. The Plus upgrades the steam wand to a professional-level 4-hole wand with 15-bar pressure, and has all the Bambino’s premium features like a PID and custom pre-infusion.
Pros
- Makes great espresso and PID
- Easy to use right out of the box
- Steaming is easy, and automatic function actually works
- Super compact and looks an absolute treat
- Auto-purge function
Cons
- Pricey for an entry-level machine
- Limited steam wand movement
In short, everyone’s right. I’ve reviewed tons of espresso machines — and I’m an ex-barista — and I’ve yet to test a Breville I don’t like. Thanks to their premium design, user-friendly functionality, and top-notch espresso, Breville espresso machines are one of the best ways to get barista-level coffee at home.
So, the next problem is figuring out which machine to buy. Is the Bambino Plus worth the extra $200, or is the Bambino good enough? I put Breville’s two beginner machines head-to-head to see which one reigns supreme.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Bambino |
Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
|
Price |
||
|
Weight |
10.9 pounds |
11 pounds |
|
Dimensions |
6.3 x 13.7 x 12 inches |
7.6 x 14.2 x 11.9 inches |
|
Bar pressure |
9 bar |
15 bar |
|
Heating system |
ThermoJet |
ThermoJet |
|
Water tank capacity |
46 fluid ounces |
64 fluid ounces |
|
Accessories |
2 x single walled portafilters, 2 x dual walled portafilters, milk jug, tamper, cleaning accessories |
2 x single walled portafilters, 2 x dual walled portafilters, the Razor dosing tool, tamper, milk jug, cleaning accessories |
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Pricing
The Bambino and Bambino Plus are Breville’s entry-level machines, and they’re priced to reflect this.
In the U.S., you’ll find the Breville Bambino for $299 on Amazon. You’ll find the Bambino Plus for $499 on Amazon.
In the U.K., Breville is called Sage. You’ll find the Sage Bambino for £329 at AO and the Sage Bambino Plus for £399 at Amazon U.K..
In the U.S., the price difference between the Bambino and the Plus makes the Bambino better for most people. $299 feels much more digestible than $499. Is having an auto-milk function and a more powerful steam wand worth $200?
However, in the U.K., I’d recommend just spending an extra £70 and getting the best of the best — the Bambino Plus.
Overall, though, the Bambino wins here.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Design
As with every espresso machine under Breville’s belt, the Bambino and the Bambino Plus are both breathtakingly gorgeous. Breville has really mastered the art of making cheaper products look — and feel — like their much pricier counterparts.
Both the Bambino and Bambino Plus are available in silver (pictured). The Plus also comes in blue or red, although these colorways seem less popular than the silver or black versions. Regardless of color, the Bambino and Bambino Plus feel much pricier than they are.
What separates the Bambino and the Bambino Plus from Breville’s other machines is size. In comparison to other espresso machines, the Bambino and Bambino Plus Plus are compact, coming in at 6.3 inches and 7 inches wide, respectively.
Seeing as I’ve tested espresso machines as wide as 15.2 inches, which I’d only recommend for abnormally large kitchens. The Bambino and Bambino Plus are much better suited to the average kitchen.
Despite this compact size, the water tanks on both the Bambino and Bambino Plus are still large enough to see you through a decent number of drinks.
Anecdotally, I rarely fill my water tank all the way as I never get through the water fast enough. I fill it to the minimum amount every day — I’d rather use fresh water anyway.
However, if you’re making loads of coffees every day, you’ll be pleased to know that the Bambino and Bambino Plus will be able to keep up.
The Bambino has a 46-ounce tank and the Bambino Plus boasts a 64-ounce tank. As the Plus is a touch wider and taller than the Bambino, it makes sense that this extra space results in a larger water tank.
Although the Bambino Plus has a larger water tank, both it and the Bambino have a similar-sized drip tray: around 5 fluid ounces (150ml). Some users see the small drip tray as a hindrance. Boo-hoo, they have to empty their drip tray after every use! What a travesty.
To that, I say, “Do you really want stagnant, dirty water sitting in your ~$500 espresso machine for days at a time?”
Presumably, the answer is no. I empty my drip tray after every use, and I’d recommend you do, too. Unless, you know, you have a particular desire to stain your machine, attract flies, or live with gross coffee-milk water.
Water tanks and drip trays aside, the Bambino and Bambino Plus have a few more important differences.
Primarily, the control buttons. While the Bambino has just two large buttons — single and double shot — the Bambino Plus is controlled via three large buttons. On the Plus, you control the steam wand via a large circular button on the front of the machine, too.
The Bambino’s steam wand is activated with a small button off to the right, alongside a button for hot water (that dispenses from the steam wand). The Bambino has a much more flexible steam wand, capable of rotating what feels like a full 360°.
Comparatively, the Bambino Plus’s steam wand mostly just moves up and down, and there’s no hot water button. I always just boil water in my kettle, because I’m British and they’re very common. If you have no kettle, though, this may be a concern.
I’ll round off this section by quickly discussing accessories. Both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus come with dual-walled and single-walled portafilters in both single- and double-shot sizes.
Both come with Breville’s excellent milk jug. Thanks to its angled spout, I find pouring latte art really easy with Breville’s jug. I like Breville’s jug much more than De’Longhi’s.
You get a tamper, too, of course. The Bambino Plus’s tamper is metal and weighty, whereas the Bambino’s is more plasticky, but still good. Finally, the Plus comes with the “Razor” tool, which basically levels your grounds before tamping. I don’t ever use this, though, so take from that what you will.
The winner? Ooh, it’s so hard. Due to the higher-quality tamper, I think the Bambino Plus just takes this one. However, for just $299, the Bambino deserves some admiration, too. Oh, let’s just say it’s a draw.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Espresso
Right, let’s get into what you’re really here for: Espresso. How does the coffee actually taste?
With a bit of finesse, there’s no reason why you won’t be making professional-quality espresso on both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus. As a former professional barista, I can genuinely say that the Bambino and Bambino Plus could go head-to-head with the espresso you get at specialty coffee shops. Trust me, I used to work at them.
However, that doesn’t mean you can make barista-quality espresso straight away on either machine. You need to understand the principles of coffee: heat, ratio, and pressure. Without one of the best coffee grinders or best coffee scales, you probably won’t be able to make barista-quality shots.
All that being said, the Bambino and Bambino Plus are both phenomenal machines to learn on, and that’s for two main reasons: PID controller and customizable pre-infusion.
A PID controller basically controls water temperature at every stage of the brewing process. Breville machines are factory set to operate at 200°F. You can make espresso in confidence, knowing that the machine will always use optimal-temperature water.
Pre-infusion is another nifty premium feature. This basically seeps water through your coffee grounds at low pressure for up to 10 seconds before increasing the pressure for the extraction.
You control pre-infusion by holding down the respective shot button, and release when you want to ramp up the pressure. This is a fantastic feature to see on an entry-level machine — some coffee snobs will tell you that pre-infusion is the most important part of the brewing process.
Image 1 of 2
As you can see from the pictures above, both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus make divine espresso. You can see the rich, creamy crema and the gorgeous caramel color on both shots. Pictures speak a thousand words, so there’s little point me saying much more about these photos. Simply look and admire the delicious espresso.
When it comes to espresso, it’s practically impossible to choose between the Bambino and Bambino Plus. As both machines use pretty much all the same tech, the differences aren’t stark enough for there to be a winner.
As a result, I’m going to announce this round as a draw. If you treat ’em right, both the Bambino and Bambino Plus will be able to make Ambrosia-like espresso.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Milk
The only major difference between the Bambino and Bambino Plus lies here, within the steam wands.
The Bambino uses a 1-hole steam wand and has 9-bar pressure, whereas the Bambino Plus boasts a 4-hole steam wand with 15-bar pressure. Now, espresso only needs 9 bars of pressure, so the extra 6 bars in the Plus is irrelevant in terms of espresso.
However, the Plus’s steam wand majorly benefits from those extra bars of pressure. The Plus’s steam wand could genuinely go head-to-head with much pricier machines — it’s more powerful than any of the steam wands in De’Longhi’s La Specialista series. The La Specialista Arte Evo and La Specialista Opera both have a 1-hole steam wand; neither is anywhere near as powerful as the Bambino Plus’s.
Here are two photos of the milk texture I achieved on the Bambino and Bambino Plus, respectively.
Image 1 of 2
Please don’t judge the latte art in the second photo — it’s pretty shoddy because I used a too-small mug. Forgive me, coffee gods.
As you can see from the photos, the milk texture on both drinks is great. Both show delicate, thick, shiny milk with no large bubbles. Considering the Bambino photo shows oat milk, I’m really proud of this texture and resulting art.
The differences between the steam wands don’t end in pressure and number of holes, though. The Bambino Plus also has an auto-milk function and auto-purging. This would be great if you’re the kind of home barista who always forgets to purge the steam wand, or if you need a little extra help behind the bar.
I personally never gravitate towards the auto-milk function, but my boyfriend uses it every time he makes a coffee. It’s a great feature to have if you so desire, but for me, I’m happy to skip it.
Even so, I can’t deny that the Bambino Plus’s steam wand is much more powerful than the Bambino’s. If you want to go head-to-head with the latte art masters of the world, then I’d recommend the Bambino Plus.
But, as I said earlier, is a more powerful steam wand worth an extra $200? It’s your choice. The Bambino’s steam wand is great — but the Bambino Plus’s steam wand is outstanding.
For me, the winner here is the Bambino Plus.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Storage & maintenance
Many people overlook cleaning and maintenance while considering espresso machine options. Maintaining your machine is just as important as making coffee on it. A poorly maintained machine will never live as long as a well-cared-for machine.
As with every other appliance that comes into contact with water, you need to descale your espresso machine often. Every three months in a soft water area, but every month or so in a hard water area.
Descaling is easy with Breville’s $14 descaling solution, and both the Bambino and Bambino Plus come with a water filter holder. You can buy the water filters for $16 from Breville. I’d recommend cleaning your machine with Breville’s provided cleaning tablets, which are also $14 from Breville.
While these cleaning products are pricey, this is a necessary evil when maintaining espresso machines. Breville’s descaler is actually around the same price as De’Longhi’s, so one brand isn’t particularly cheaper than the other.
There’s little to compare to here, as both the Bambino and Bambino Plus require the same maintenance. Let’s call this one a draw.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Verdict
Asking me to choose between the Breville Bambino and the Breville Bambino Plus is like asking me to choose which of my eyes I’d most like to lose.
As a former barista and now a professional espresso machine tester, I’m in constant awe of Breville’s two entry-level machines. This is a bold statement, I know, but both the Bambino and Bambino Plus behave like prosumer models. They’re both capable of pulling professional-quality shots and steaming award-worthy milk. I would be more than happy to spend the rest of my life drinking Bambino/Bambino Plus coffee. Actually, I would be honored to.
However, this is a face-off, and you’re here for one reason, and one reason only. You want me to crown a winner, right?
It depends on where you are in the world. If you’re in the U.S. and you aren’t too fussed about auto milk steaming, then I’d recommend saving $200 with the Bambino.
However, if you’re in the U.K. (and therefore know Brevilles as Sages), then I’d suggest spending an extra £70 and getting the Bambino Plus.
Even so, both machines punch well above their weight and are capable of going head-to-head with some near-$1,000 machines. I don’t think you could go wrong with either of Breville’s entry-level espresso machines.
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