For first-time buyers considering the compact Breville
Breville Bambino Plus for Beginners
Is the Bambino Plus a good first espresso machine? What beginners must know about the missing grinder, pressurized baskets, and auto microfoam.
The short answer
The Bambino Plus is an excellent first machine if you already own a grinder or plan to buy one: fast, compact, and forgiving on milk. If you own no grinder, the Barista Express is the cheaper total package. Our Bambino Plus review covers the trade-offs in detail.
Top picks at a glance
The picks, ranked
| Product | Width | Heat-up | Milk | Water tank | Portafilter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino Plus | 7.7 in | ThermoJet, 3 seconds | Automatic microfoam, 3 temps, 3 textures | 64 oz | 54 mm |
| Breville Bambino | 7.6 in | ThermoJet, 3 seconds | Manual steam wand | 47 oz | 54 mm |
| Breville Barista Express BES870XL | - | - | - | 67 oz (2 L) | 54 mm |
| Breville Infuser BES840 | - | - | - | 61 oz | 54 mm |
Swipe sideways to compare all picks
01Best first machine for small kitchens
Breville Bambino Plus
Espresso-bar speed in a 7.7-inch footprint, with automatic microfoam.
- Width: 7.7 in
- Heat-up: ThermoJet, 3 seconds
- Milk: Automatic microfoam, 3 temps, 3 textures
The 7.7-inch footprint, 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, and automatic microfoam with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings make the Plus the most forgiving Breville to learn on. The 64 oz tank means fewer refills than the base Bambino's 47 oz.
Strengths
- 7.7-inch width fits where no Barista model can
- ThermoJet 3-second heat-up, fastest in the class
- Automatic microfoam with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings
- 64 oz tank is generous for the footprint
Limitations
- No built-in grinder, so budget a separate grinder
- 54mm portafilter with pressurized baskets by default
- Manual steam control is gone; you accept the machine's texture presets
| Width | 7.7 in |
|---|---|
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, 3 seconds |
| Milk | Automatic microfoam, 3 temps, 3 textures |
| Water tank | 64 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the 7.7-inch width for fitting where no Barista model can
- Many owners say the ThermoJet 3-second heat-up is the fastest in its class
- Owners like the automatic microfoam with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings
- Some owners are caught out by the missing built-in grinder, which changes the total cost
- Owners note the 54mm portafilter ships with pressurized baskets by default
- A common complaint is losing manual steam control and having to accept the texture presets the machine offers
Best for: Small kitchens where the machine must disappear between uses and milk must be automatic.
Skip if: You do not own a grinder; this machine needs one, and that changes the total cost.
02Best first machine on a budget
Breville Bambino
The cheapest way into Breville espresso: ThermoJet speed, manual steam.
- Width: 7.6 in
- Heat-up: ThermoJet, 3 seconds
- Milk: Manual steam wand
The base Bambino keeps the 3-second heat-up and 54mm portafilter at the lowest Breville price. You steam milk manually and refill the 47 oz tank more often, but the espresso fundamentals match the Plus.
Strengths
- Lowest entry price in the Breville espresso range
- ThermoJet 3-second heat-up like the Plus
- Compact 7.6-inch width for tight counters
- Low-pressure pre-infusion and 54mm portafilter
Limitations
- Manual steam wand with less power than the Plus
- 47 oz tank needs refilling more often
- No grinder, so total cost includes a separate one
| Width | 7.6 in |
|---|---|
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, 3 seconds |
| Milk | Manual steam wand |
| Water tank | 47 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise it as the lowest entry price in the Breville espresso range
- Many owners like the ThermoJet 3-second heat-up, matching the Plus
- Owners say the compact 7.6-inch width suits tight counters
- Some owners find the manual steam wand has less power than the Plus
- Owners note the 47 oz tank needs refilling more often
- A common complaint is the missing grinder pushing the total cost up with a separate purchase
Best for: Budget buyers who own a grinder and want fast, simple espresso.
Skip if: You want automatic milk or a built-in grinder; neither is here.
03Best first machine with grinder included
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
The machine that defined home espresso: grinder, gauge, and steam wand in one box.
- Pump: 15-bar Italian pump
- Grinder: Integrated conical burr, 16 settings
- Water tank: 67 oz (2 L)
If you do not own a grinder, the Express is usually cheaper overall than a Bambino Plus plus a separate grinder. The 16-setting integrated grinder and pressurized baskets make the first months genuinely easy.
Strengths
- Integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings removes the separate grinder purchase
- Low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction for even, forgiving shots
- Analog pressure gauge shows the extraction zone while the shot pulls
- 67 oz water tank brews for days between refills
Limitations
- Thermocoil heat-up is slower than the ThermoJet models
- Manual steam wand takes practice to produce real microfoam
- 16 grind settings have coarser steps than the Pro and Touch with 30
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump |
|---|---|
| Grinder | Integrated conical burr, 16 settings |
| Water tank | 67 oz (2 L) |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion, 9-bar extraction |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings for removing a separate grinder purchase
- Many owners say low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction makes shots even and forgiving
- Owners like the 67 oz tank, which keeps brewing going for days between refills
- Some owners find the thermocoil heat-up slower than the ThermoJet models
- Owners note the manual steam wand takes practice before it produces real microfoam
- A common complaint is that the 16 grind settings step more coarsely than the 30 on the Pro and Touch
Best for: Beginners who want an all-in-one machine and are willing to learn manual milk steaming.
Skip if: You want the fastest heat-up or push-button milk; the Pro and Touch do those better.
04Best first machine if you own a grinder
Breville Infuser BES840
The Barista Express minus the grinder, with adjustable temperature control.
- Pump: 15-bar Italian pump
- Extraction: Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Temperature: Adjustable temperature control
The Infuser pairs its pre-infusion extraction and adjustable temperature control with your existing grinder. It is the rational pick when the grinder question is already answered and you want to learn manual steaming.
Strengths
- Adjustable temperature control for dialing in light vs dark roasts
- Low-pressure pre-infusion for even extraction, like the Express
- 61 oz water tank and 54mm portafilter
- Manual microfoam steam wand for real latte art practice
Limitations
- No grinder, so it only makes sense if you already own one
- Thermocoil heat-up lags the ThermoJet Bambino models
- Older interface without the Pro's LCD shot timer
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump |
|---|---|
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion |
| Temperature | Adjustable temperature control |
| Water tank | 61 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the adjustable temperature control for dialing in light versus dark roasts
- Many owners like the low-pressure pre-infusion for even extraction, like the Express
- Owners say the manual microfoam steam wand gives real latte art practice
- Some owners find it only makes sense if a grinder is already owned, since none is built in
- Owners note the thermocoil heat-up lags the ThermoJet Bambino models
- A common complaint is the older interface lacking the LCD shot timer the Pro offers
Best for: Learners who own a grinder and want temperature control at a moderate price.
Skip if: You need a built-in grinder; the Express is the same platform with one.
Questions, answered
Can a beginner use the Bambino Plus without a grinder?
Not well. The Bambino Plus has no built-in grinder, so you need a separate burr grinder or pre-ground coffee. Pre-ground goes stale fast, so budget a grinder into the total cost; without one, the Barista Express is the better beginner value.
Is automatic microfoam good enough for lattes?
Yes for milk drinks: the 3 temperature and 3 texture settings produce consistent, silky foam without technique. It will not teach you latte art pouring the way a manual wand does, but the drinks taste right.
Bambino or Bambino Plus for a beginner?
The Plus, if the budget allows: automatic microfoam removes the hardest beginner skill, and the 64 oz tank beats the base model's 47 oz. The base Bambino is the pick when every dollar counts and you are willing to learn manual steaming.
What else does a beginner need to buy?
A burr grinder (essential), fresh beans, and a scale help more than any accessory. The Bambino Plus ships with pressurized baskets that forgive grind inconsistency while you learn.