Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Which One Should You Buy?

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Short answer: buy the Breville Bambino Plus if you make milk drinks most days and want the machine to steam milk for you. Buy the Breville Bambino if you mostly drink espresso or Americanos, want to learn manual steaming, or want the same shot quality at a lower price tier. The two machines share the hardware that makes the espresso; the differences are in milk, size, water capacity and accessories.

That's why the "breville bambino vs bambino plus" question has a clean answer once you know how you drink coffee. Below, we compare them side by side, walk through each difference and tell you who should pick which.

Bambino vs Bambino Plus at a glance

The differences, one by one

1. Shot quality: practically the same

Both machines use Breville's ThermoJet heating system, which Breville says is ready in about 3 seconds. Both use a 54mm portafilter designed for an 18 g dose, a 15-bar pump with low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction, and both come with single-wall baskets for fresh-ground coffee and dual-wall (pressurized) baskets for pre-ground.

In practice, that means the espresso tastes the same from either machine when you use the same grinder, beans and recipe. Don't pay for the Plus expecting better shots.

2. The steam wand: the real difference

This is what you're paying for. The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand: set the jug on the tray, choose one of 3 milk temperatures and 3 texture levels, and it steams hands-free and stops when it's done. You can also steam manually.

The Bambino has a manual steam wand only. You control the jug angle, stretch and temperature yourself. That takes practice, but it's how every café barista learns, and many people enjoy it. Reviewers also note that the Plus uses a multi-hole steam tip, which tends to texture milk faster than a single-hole tip.

3. Water tank

Reviews put the Bambino's tank at about 47 oz and the Plus's at about 64 oz. If you make several milk drinks a day, the Plus needs refilling less often. For one or two drinks, either is fine.

4. Size and footprint

Breville gives the Bambino as about 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 inches and the Plus as about 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches. The Bambino is slightly shorter and shallower, which can matter under low cabinets or on a crowded counter. Both are among the smallest machines with a proper steam wand; see our small espresso machine guide for more compact options.

5. Accessories in the box

The Bambino Plus includes a 54mm tamper, Breville's Razor dosing tool and a 16 oz milk jug, per Breville. The Bambino comes with a simpler accessory set. Check the current listing for exactly what's included, as bundles change.

6. Price tier

The Bambino sits in a clearly lower price tier. The difference is roughly the cost of a decent grinder, which is worth keeping in mind: a Bambino plus a good grinder often makes better drinks than a Plus with no grinder budget left.

Who should buy the Bambino Plus

• You drink lattes, flat whites or cappuccinos most days.
• You want café-style milk without learning to steam.
• Several people in your home use the machine and want consistent milk.
• You'd rather refill the tank less often.

The Plus is our top pick in both our best espresso machine under $500 and beginner espresso machine guides because it removes the hardest skill for newcomers.

Who should buy the Bambino

• You drink straight espresso, Americanos or the occasional milk drink.
• You want to learn manual steaming and latte art.
• You want the smallest footprint.
• You'd rather put the savings toward a better grinder.

Don't forget the grinder

Neither Bambino has a built-in grinder. With the dual-wall baskets, pre-ground coffee works, but you lose control over the shot. For real espresso with the single-wall baskets, you need a grinder with an espresso range. The Baratza Encore ESP and Breville Smart Grinder Pro are common pairings; a hand grinder like the KINGrinder K6 is a budget-friendly alternative.

Pulling your first shots on either machine

1. Use the single-wall basket with freshly ground coffee once you have a grinder.
2. Dose 18 g, the amount Breville designs the 54mm basket around.
3. Aim for about 36 g out in roughly 25–30 seconds as a starting point.
4. Adjust the grind: fast and sour, go finer; slow and bitter, go coarser.

Our how to dial in espresso guide walks through this with an interactive helper.

Steaming milk on the manual Bambino: quick tips

If you choose the Bambino, these basics shorten the learning curve:

• Start with cold milk in a cold jug, filled to just below the spout.
• Stretch first: keep the tip just under the surface for a few seconds to add air, listening for a gentle hiss.
• Then texture: sink the tip a little deeper and let the milk spin until the jug is too hot to hold comfortably.
• Tap and swirl the jug to remove big bubbles before pouring.
• Purge and wipe the wand right after steaming.

A separate milk frother is another option if you'd rather skip steaming altogether.

Daily workflow compared

Morning latte on the Bambino Plus: switch it on, grind and tamp, pull the shot, pour cold milk into the jug, set it on the tray, choose temperature and texture, press the steam button and walk away. When it stops, swirl and pour. Hands-on time for the milk is a few seconds.

Morning latte on the Bambino: the shot is identical. For milk, you hold the jug, position the wand, stretch and texture by ear and feel, and judge temperature by hand or with a thermometer. Once you've practiced, it's quick; for the first few weeks, expect some big bubbles and the odd overheated jug.

Straight espresso or Americano: no difference at all. The Bambino's smaller size and lower price tier make it the obvious choice.

Which is better for latte art?

Both can pour latte art. The automatic wand on the Plus produces consistent foam that many beginners find easier to pour with, and you can switch to manual steaming once you want full control. The manual Bambino makes you learn steaming from day one, which some people see as the faster route to real latte art skills. If latte art is your goal and you're patient, the Bambino is enough; if you want good-looking drinks from the first week, the Plus helps.

Upgrades and accessories that fit both

Because both machines use the same 54mm portafilter, accessories carry over: a 54mm tamper or distribution tool, a dosing funnel and aftermarket 54mm baskets fit either model. A small espresso scale on the drip tray makes dialing in far easier on both. Check that any accessory is listed for Breville 54mm portafilters before buying.

Maintenance on both machines

Both machines need the same basic care: rinse the portafilter and baskets after use, purge and wipe the steam wand after every milk drink, and descale when the machine prompts you, following Breville's instructions. Using filtered water reduces scale build-up. The Plus's automatic wand has a temperature sensor on the drip tray area; keep it clean so it reads accurately.

How we compared them

We compared the two machines using Breville's product specifications and manuals, retailer listings, and reviews and owner feedback on daily use. Where sources give slightly different figures, such as tank sizes, we say "about" and name the source type. We did not test these machines ourselves.

FAQ

The bottom line

The Bambino and Bambino Plus pull the same shots. Choose the Bambino Plus if you want hands-free, consistent milk for daily lattes; choose the Bambino if you drink mostly espresso, want to learn steaming, or would rather spend the difference on a better grinder.