Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: which Breville for you?

Both are Breville, both pull genuine 9-bar espresso with 54 mm portafilters and 18 g doses — but they solve different problems.

The core difference: the grinder

The Barista Express integrates a conical burr grinder (16 settings) into the machine — one footprint, one workflow, everything calibrated together. The Bambino Plus has no grinder: it assumes you already own (or will buy) a dedicated one. That's why it costs $499.95 versus the Express's $699.95 — and why its footprint is far smaller.

The milk difference

• Bambino Plus: hands-free automatic steam wand — 3 milk temperatures × 3 texture levels, 266°F steam, latte-art-capable microfoam without technique.
• Barista Express: manual steam wand — you learn to texture milk, which is slower to master but more flexible.

Heating

• Bambino Plus: ThermoJet, ready in ~3 seconds.
• Barista Express: Thermocoil with PID temperature control at 200°F.

Practical decision

• No grinder, want the smallest serious espresso footprint, drink milk drinks daily: Bambino Plus. Pair it with a good filter-to-espresso grinder.
• Want one purchase that does everything and don't mind a bigger machine: Barista Express.
• Both need the same water discipline — see our water guide.

All specifications above are from Breville's own product pages, checked 2026-09-21.