Breville Bambino Plus Review
The Breville Bambino Plus is a small espresso machine with a surprisingly ambitious feature set. It heats in about three seconds. It uses PID temperature control. It has a 54mm portafilter and a powerful automatic steam wand. That combination makes it very different from many compact entry-level machines.
The Bambino Plus also keeps the controls simple. You can pull one or two shots with dedicated buttons. You can also adjust milk temperature and foam level without manually controlling every steaming step.
But there is a catch. The machine does not include a grinder. It also uses a 54mm portafilter instead of the more common 58mm enthusiast platform.
So is the Bambino Plus actually worth its relatively high price?
After looking closely at its specifications, workflow, strengths, limitations, and current market position, I think it is one of the strongest compact espresso machines for home baristas who value speed and convenience without giving up real espresso control.
Breville Bambino Plus: Quick Review
| Category | Our Rating |
| Espresso quality | 4.5/5 |
| Milk steaming | 4.8/5 |
| Heat-up speed | 5/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.7/5 |
| Build quality | 4/5 |
| Size | 4.8/5 |
| Features | 4.6/5 |
| Value | 4.2/5 |
| Overall | 4.6/5 |
Best for: Home baristas who want fast espresso and easy milk drinks.
Not ideal for: Buyers who want a built-in grinder or a full 58mm commercial-style platform.
Breville Bambino Plus Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic |
| Model | BES500 |
| Portafilter | 54mm stainless steel |
| Recommended dose | 18g |
| Grinder | None |
| Heating system | ThermoJet |
| Temperature control | PID |
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump |
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion + 9-bar extraction |
| Milk system | Automatic/manual steam wand |
| Milk settings | 3 temperature + 3 texture levels |
| Water tank | 64 fl oz / 1.9L |
| Milk jug | 16 fl oz / 480ml |
| Power | 1,560W |
| Dimensions | 11.9 × 7.4 × 14.3 in (W × D × H) |
| Weight | 10.91 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Body | Stainless steel |
| Heat-up | About 3 seconds |
What Is the Breville Bambino Plus?
The Bambino Plus is a semi-automatic espresso machine designed for home use. It sits between basic entry-level machines and larger prosumer machines. You still grind, dose, tamp, and start the espresso manually. But the machine automates several parts of the process.
The most obvious example is milk steaming. Its automatic steam wand can detect the temperature of the milk jug and stop when the selected temperature is reached. You can choose from three milk-temperature levels and three texture settings.
That makes the Bambino Plus especially interesting for people who regularly drink lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites. If you are still learning the difference between machine categories, our guide to espresso machine types explains where semi-automatic machines fit.
Internal link: espresso machine types → Espresso Machine Types Explained
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Design and Build Quality
The Bambino Plus has a compact footprint. It is only 7.4 inches deep according to Breville’s current U.S. specifications, although published dimensions can vary slightly by market and measurement method.
That makes it much easier to accommodate than many traditional espresso machines. The brushed stainless-steel exterior also gives it a more premium appearance than its size suggests.
However, this is not a heavy prosumer machine. At about 10.9 pounds, it is relatively light. That has a practical downside.
You may need to hold the machine when locking or removing the portafilter. A heavier machine usually feels more planted during this process. Still, the lightweight design makes the Bambino Plus easier to move and more suitable for smaller kitchens.
If countertop space is one of your biggest concerns, our guide to best compact espresso machines covers other machines worth considering.
Internal link: best compact espresso machines → Best Compact Espresso Machines
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Espresso Performance
This is where the Bambino Plus becomes much more interesting. Breville uses a ThermoJet heating system with PID temperature control. The machine reaches brewing temperature in roughly three seconds. That is one of its biggest advantages over traditional boiler-based machines. But speed alone does not make good espresso.
The Bambino Plus also uses low-pressure pre-infusion before moving into a 9-bar extraction. Breville says its 15-bar Italian pump delivers the extraction process at 9 bar. That is a much more useful specification than simply advertising a high maximum pump pressure.
The machine also supports an 18g dose through its 54mm stainless-steel portafilter. With fresh beans and a capable grinder, the Bambino Plus can produce rich and balanced espresso.
The grinder matters a lot, though. A mediocre grinder can make the machine look worse than it actually is.
For that reason, I would not buy the Bambino Plus without planning the grinder side of your setup. Our article on do you need a grinder for an espresso machine explains why this matters.
Internal link: do you need a grinder for an espresso machine → Do You Need a Grinder for an Espresso Machine?
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ThermoJet Heating: The Bambino Plus Advantage
The three-second heat-up time sounds like marketing until you actually consider the daily workflow. You wake up. You turn on the machine. You grind your coffee.
By the time your puck is ready, the Bambino Plus is already at brewing temperature. That makes the machine particularly attractive for weekday use.
Traditional machines with larger boilers can require a longer warm-up period. The Bambino Plus avoids that waiting time through its ThermoJet system. There is another advantage.
The machine can move quickly between brewing and steaming. That matters when making milk-based drinks.
Milk Frothing and the Automatic Steam Wand
This is arguably the Bambino Plus’s biggest advantage over the regular Bambino. The steam wand can automatically texture milk.
Place the milk jug on the temperature sensor, select your desired milk temperature and foam level, and the machine handles the steaming process. You get:
- Three milk-temperature settings
- Three texture settings
- Automatic milk texturing
- Manual steaming option
- Automatic steam-wand purge
Breville specifically describes the wand as a hands-free automatic milk-texturing system. That makes the Bambino Plus particularly attractive for latte drinkers. You can also switch to manual steaming when you want more control.
That gives the machine a useful middle ground. Beginners can use automation. More experienced users can take over.
Recent 2026 testing also continues to highlight the Bambino Plus’s compact size and strong milk-steaming performance.
How Easy Is the Bambino Plus to Use?
The controls are simple. You get dedicated buttons for:
- One espresso
- Two espresso
- Steam
You can also program shot durations and adjust the milk settings. There is no touchscreen. There is no complicated menu system. There is no built-in grinder to configure. That simplicity is a major benefit.
However, the Bambino Plus is not a fully automatic machine. You still need to:
- Grind the coffee.
- Dose the basket.
- Tamp the coffee.
- Lock in the portafilter.
- Start the shot.
- Clean the puck.
- Steam or texture milk when needed.
So it is easy to operate, but it still requires some espresso technique.
54mm Portafilter: Is It a Problem?
The Bambino Plus uses a 54mm stainless-steel portafilter. Breville designed it around an 18g dose. For normal home use, that is perfectly workable.
The downside appears when you start shopping for accessories. The 58mm format has a huge commercial and enthusiast ecosystem. A 54mm platform gives you fewer options. That does not make the Bambino Plus a bad machine.
It simply means buyers who plan extensive modifications or accessory experimentation may prefer a 58mm machine. Our upcoming guide on what a 58mm portafilter is and why it matters will cover this difference in much more detail.
Internal link: what a 58mm portafilter is and why it matters → What Is a 58mm Portafilter and Why Does It Matter?
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What Comes in the Box?
Breville includes a useful selection of accessories. You get:
- 54mm stainless-steel portafilter
- 54mm tamper
- Razor precision dosing tool
- 480ml stainless-steel milk jug
- Single-wall filter baskets
- Dual-wall filter baskets
- Cleaning tool
- Cleaning disc
The official U.S. specification lists all of these included accessories. That is a reasonable starter package. You still need a grinder, though. And that can add a significant amount to your total setup cost.
What We Like
| What We Like | Why It Matters |
| 3-second heat-up | Excellent for quick morning drinks |
| PID temperature control | Helps maintain brewing temperature |
| Automatic milk texturing | Makes milk drinks easier |
| Manual steam option | Gives experienced users more control |
| Compact footprint | Works well in smaller kitchens |
| 9-bar extraction | Better than judging performance by pump rating alone |
| Simple controls | Easy daily workflow |
| 2-year warranty | Useful protection for a premium purchase |
What Could Be Better
| What Could Be Better | Why It Matters |
| No built-in grinder | Adds another purchase to your setup |
| 54mm portafilter | Smaller accessory ecosystem |
| Lightweight body | Can move during portafilter use |
| No pressure gauge | Less feedback for dialing in |
| No dedicated hot-water outlet | Less convenient for some drinks |
| Higher price than basic machines | You pay more for speed and automation |
| Small physical controls | Less tactile than larger machines |
Breville Bambino Plus vs Regular Bambino
These machines look similar, but they target slightly different users.
The regular Bambino focuses more heavily on simplicity and lower cost.
The Bambino Plus adds automatic milk texturing, a larger emphasis on milk-drink convenience, and a more refined workflow.
If you mostly drink straight espresso, the regular Bambino can make more financial sense.
If you drink lattes and cappuccinos regularly, the Plus is easier to justify.
This distinction also matters when comparing machines in our best espresso machines for beginners guide.
Internal link: best espresso machines for beginners → Best Espresso Machines for Beginners
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Who Should Buy the Breville Bambino Plus?
The Bambino Plus is a strong fit for several types of buyers.
Buy It If You:
- Want fast heat-up.
- Drink lattes or cappuccinos.
- Have limited counter space.
- Want automatic milk texturing.
- Still want control over espresso preparation.
- Already own a good grinder.
- Want a machine that can grow with your skills.
It is especially appealing to someone who wants real espresso without turning the kitchen into a full barista workstation.
Who Should Skip the Bambino Plus?
The machine is not perfect for everyone.
Skip It If You:
- Want a built-in grinder.
- Want a 58mm portafilter.
- Prefer a heavy commercial-style machine.
- Want extensive manual control.
- Need to brew and steam large volumes continuously.
- Want maximum value at the lowest possible price.
A cheaper machine can make sense for occasional espresso.
A larger machine can make more sense for serious daily use.
The Bambino Plus sits between those two extremes.
Is the Bambino Plus Worth It?
Yes, but the answer depends on the price.
At around $400, I think the Bambino Plus is one of the strongest compact semi-automatic machines available.
At around $500, it still offers excellent performance, but you should compare it carefully against larger machines and machines with different feature priorities.
Its biggest strengths are not raw power. They are speed, convenience, size, and milk performance. The machine gets out of your way without becoming completely automatic. That is its sweet spot.
Breville Bambino Plus Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Heats in about 3 seconds | No grinder |
| PID temperature control | 54mm portafilter |
| 9-bar extraction | No pressure gauge |
| Excellent automatic milk texturing | Lightweight body |
| Manual steaming available | Premium price |
| Compact footprint | Limited high-volume workflow |
| Simple controls | Requires separate grinder |
| 2-year warranty | Not ideal for extreme tinkering |
Our Verdict
Typical price: Around $400–$500
The Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent compact semi-automatic espresso machine for home baristas who value speed, convenience, and milk drinks. Its ThermoJet system reaches brewing temperature in about three seconds, while PID control and 9-bar extraction give it a strong espresso foundation. The automatic steam wand is the feature that separates it most clearly from the regular Bambino.
The main compromises are the 54mm portafilter, lightweight construction, lack of a grinder, and relatively high price. If you can find it around $400, the value becomes particularly strong. At $500, it deserves a closer comparison with larger and more enthusiast-focused machines.
Our rating: 4.6/5
Check the Breville Bambino Plus on Amazon
Final Thoughts
The Breville Bambino Plus gets a lot right in a very small package. It heats almost instantly, maintains brewing temperature with PID control, produces 9-bar extraction, and makes milk texturing much easier than most machines in its class. It is not the machine for someone who wants a heavy 58mm prosumer setup with endless manual adjustments. It is for the home barista who wants good espresso without sacrificing speed and convenience.
The separate grinder and relatively high price are the main things to consider before buying. At a good sale price, however, the Bambino Plus becomes an especially compelling choice for a compact home espresso setup.
