The Breville Bambino Plus costs $107 and produces espresso that most $300 machines would be embarrassed to compete with. I’ve been pulling shots on one every morning for six months. Here’s what actually matters and what the spec sheet doesn’t tell you.
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4.5/5 · ~$300 · View on Amazon
Quick Verdict
The Bambino Plus is the best espresso machine under $200 for anyone who wants genuine café-quality shots without learning to operate a boiler system. The 3-second heat-up is real, the automatic milk texturing works well enough for lattes and flat whites, and the 54mm portafilter produces proper crema. The main limitation is that it rewards good grinders — pair it with a bad grinder and the shots will show it.
Score: 88/100. Loses points for the fixed 19g basket (inflexible for single shots), no manual steam control, and the water tank position making refills awkward. Gains points for build quality, heat consistency, and genuinely fast heat-up.
Key Specs
| Spec | Breville Bambino Plus |
|---|---|
| Model | BES500BSS |
| Heat-up time | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) |
| Portafilter size | 54mm |
| Dose | 19g (fixed basket) |
| Pressure | 9 bars extraction, pre-infusion at low pressure |
| Milk system | Automatic steam wand |
| Temperature control | PID digital |
| Width | 7.7 inches |
| Wattage | 1,560W |
| Amazon rating | 4.1/5 (2,785 reviews) |
| Price | ~$107 |
The Espresso
Heat-up speed
Breville’s ThermoJet system is the machine’s headline feature and it delivers. Three seconds from cold to extraction temperature is accurate — I’ve timed it. Compare that to the 25–45 seconds you’d wait on a thermoblock machine or the 15–20 minutes to stabilise a proper boiler. For weekday mornings, this matters more than almost anything else on the spec sheet.
The temperature holds well between shots too. PID control keeps the water within a tight range, which is what gives you consistent extraction. Cheaper machines in this price bracket use thermostats instead of PID — you’ll notice the difference in cup consistency after the first week.
Shot quality
The low-pressure pre-infusion is the other feature that genuinely affects what’s in your cup. It wets the puck at low pressure before ramping up to 9 bars, which reduces channelling and pulls flavour more evenly from the grounds. On a fresh medium roast with a decent grind, you get proper crema — not the pale foam that cheaper machines produce.
The 19g fixed basket is both a strength and a constraint. Nineteen grams is enough for a proper double shot, and the basket is well-designed — consistent, tight tolerances, no issues with grounds escaping. The constraint is that you can’t pull a single shot without a separate single-shot basket, which Breville doesn’t include. If you mostly drink single shots or smaller drinks, this is worth knowing before you buy.
Grinder dependency
This is the honest part of any Bambino Plus review. The machine will extract exactly what you give it. A good grind — consistent particle size, correct fineness for espresso — and you’ll get shots that surprise you at this price. A pre-ground supermarket espresso or a blade grinder result and you’ll get something drinkable but not special. Budget another $70–100 for a hand grinder (Timemore C2 or similar) if you don’t already have one. The machine is good enough to justify it.
The Milk System
How the automatic wand works
The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand, which is different from the manual steam wands on machines like the Breville Barista Express or any traditional espresso machine. You set your target milk temperature (there are four presets) and the machine steams until it hits that temperature, then stops. The texture is controlled by a dial — four positions from thin (hot milk) to thick (barista-style microfoam).
For lattes and flat whites, it works well. The foam is consistent once you find your preferred setting — I use position 3 for a flat white, position 4 for a cappuccino. The machine won’t produce the delicate microfoam that a skilled barista pulls on a commercial machine, but it’s significantly better than the panarello wands on budget machines.
What the auto wand can’t do
There’s no manual steam mode. If you want to develop the skill of freehand texturing — controlling pressure, swirl, and temperature by feel — you can’t do it on this machine. That’s a deliberate design choice: the auto wand is for people who want consistent results, not people who want to learn the craft. If you’re interested in latte art beyond basic pours, you’ll eventually want to upgrade to a machine with manual steam.
For a deeper look at milk texturing technique, see how to froth milk with an espresso machine — the principles apply even with an automatic wand.
Design and Build
The Bambino Plus is 7.7 inches wide. That’s genuinely compact — it fits in a kitchen where a larger machine wouldn’t. The brushed stainless steel finish is solid, not lightweight. After six months it still looks new, which isn’t something I can say for every kitchen appliance.
The water tank is at the back and holds 64 oz (1.9L). The position means you have to move the machine to refill it unless you have clear access from behind. It’s a minor inconvenience that adds up over time — front-loading tanks are more practical in smaller kitchens.
The drip tray is generous and the cup warmer on top actually works. Two buttons on the front — one for espresso, one for steam — keep the interface simple. There’s no programmable shot volume on the standard mode, though you can set custom volumes with a three-second button hold during extraction.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The 54mm portafilter knocks out and rinses easily. The steam wand purges automatically after each use, which helps prevent milk residue build-up. The drip tray has a float indicator so you can see when it needs emptying.
Descaling is straightforward — the machine guides you through it with indicator lights. On hard water you’ll need to descale every 2–3 months. See how often to descale an espresso machine for a full guide on timing and method.
The portafilter basket is dishwasher-safe. Everything else should be hand-washed or wiped — don’t put the steam wand assembly in the dishwasher.
Who It’s Best For
The Bambino Plus is the right machine if you want proper espresso without a steep learning curve, already own or plan to buy a decent grinder, have limited counter space, or mostly make lattes and flat whites and want consistent milk texture. It’s not the right machine if you want to learn manual steam texturing, mainly drink single shots, or want a built-in grinder (look at the Breville Barista Express for that).
How It Compares
| Machine | Price | Heat-up | Milk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino Plus | ~$107 | 3 sec | Auto wand | Fast, consistent espresso and lattes |
| De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 | ~$100 | ~30 sec | Manual panarello | Budget entry, manual control |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | ~$130 | 25 sec | None | Convenience, zero skill |
| Breville Barista Express | ~$600 | ~30 sec | Manual | Built-in grinder, manual craft |
If choosing between the Bambino Plus and the De’Longhi Stilosa, the Bambino Plus wins on heat-up speed, temperature consistency, and milk quality. For the next price tier with more control, the best semi-automatic espresso machines guide covers machines at $200–500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it for beginners?
Yes, for a specific type of beginner — one who wants good espresso quickly without a steep learning curve. The automatic milk texturing removes the hardest skill from the process. The 3-second heat-up means you’ll use it on busy mornings. The main caveat: you still need a decent grinder. With a burr grinder at $100–150, the results are noticeably better than any capsule machine.
What grinder works best with the Bambino Plus?
The 54mm portafilter needs a consistent medium-fine espresso grind. The Baratza Encore is the most commonly recommended pairing at around $140–160. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro also integrates well. Avoid blade grinders — consistent dose and grind size matter more than anything else with this machine.
How often does the Bambino Plus need descaling?
The machine has a built-in descale alert. With typical tap water and daily use, expect to descale every 2–3 months. Use filtered water and you’ll descale less often and extend the heating element’s life. See our guide on how often to descale an espresso machine for the full breakdown.
Can the Bambino Plus make regular drip-style coffee?
No — it makes espresso and espresso-based drinks only. For something closer to filter coffee, pull a shot and add hot water (an Americano). If you also want regular drip coffee, you’ll need a separate machine. The Bambino Plus is built for espresso, lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos.
Breville Bambino Plus: Final Verdict
The Breville Bambino Plus is the machine I’d recommend to anyone asking what to buy for under $200. It makes better espresso than most people expect at this price, heats up faster than anything else in this category, and the automatic milk system removes one of the main frustrations of entry-level machines — inconsistent foam. The grinder dependency is real but honest: the machine is good enough that a better grinder will make a noticeable difference, which is a better problem to have than a machine that’s the bottleneck.
See also: best espresso machines under $200 and best espresso machines under $500 for how it sits across different budgets. For the manual alternative, the best stovetop espresso makers take a different approach entirely.
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FAQs
Does the Breville Bambino Plus need a grinder?
Technically no — you can use pre-ground espresso. In practice, the machine is good enough that grind quality becomes the limiting factor. A consistent grinder in the $70–100 range will noticeably improve results.
What’s the difference between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus?
The Plus adds the automatic milk texturing wand. The original Bambino has a manual steam wand, which gives more control but requires technique. The Plus costs $30–40 more depending on when you buy.
Can you use pods in the Breville Bambino Plus?
No. It uses ground coffee in the portafilter only. Not compatible with Nespresso or Dolce Gusto pods.
How loud is the Breville Bambino Plus?
The pump is audible during extraction — about the same as most machines in this category. Noticeable but not particularly loud. Fine in an open-plan kitchen.
Glenn is the founder of Kitchenware Compare and has spent years researching, testing, and reviewing kitchen appliances, cookware, and gadgets. A lifelong home cook raised in a family that treated every meal as an occasion, Glenn started this site to cut through the noise of conflicting product reviews and give readers honest, practical guidance. When he is not testing the latest air fryer or digging into the specs of a new espresso machine, he can usually be found experimenting with new recipes or hunting for the perfect cast iron skillet at a flea market.
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