The Breville Bambino Plus and Barista Express both make real espresso with a 54 mm portafilter and PID temperature control, but they solve different problems. The Bambino Plus is a small, fast machine with automatic milk frothing and no grinder. The Barista Express is a larger all-in-one with a built-in grinder and a manual steam wand.
The short answer: buy the Bambino Plus if you mostly drink lattes and cappuccinos, want a machine that’s ready in 3 seconds, or have little counter space. Budget for a separate espresso grinder, or buy Breville’s $649.95 bundle with a Baratza grinder. Buy the Barista Express if you want everything in one machine for $699.95 and don’t mind learning to steam milk by hand.
Bambino Plus vs. Barista Express specs
| Spec | Bambino Plus (BES500) | Barista Express (BES870XL) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.95 | $699.95 |
| Built-in grinder | No | Yes, steel conical burrs, 16 settings |
| Heating system | ThermoJet, ready in 3 seconds | Thermocoil |
| Temperature control | PID | PID |
| Milk frothing | Automatic wand with 3 temperatures and 3 textures, or manual | Manual steam wand |
| Shot control | 1 and 2 cup volumetric | Single, double, or manual |
| Pressure gauge | No | Yes, analog |
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm |
| Water tank | 64 oz | 67 oz |
| Width | About 7.5 in. | 15.9 in. |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
Specs and list prices are from Breville’s US site and user manual, and the Bambino Plus warranty is from its Amazon listing.
Best for milk drinks and small kitchens
Breville Bambino Plus
A compact espresso machine with 3-second ThermoJet heating, PID control, and an automatic milk-frothing wand.
Best all-in-one
Breville Barista Express
Breville's classic grind-to-cup espresso machine, with a 16-setting grinder, PID temperature control, and a pressure gauge.
The Grinder: The Biggest Difference
The Barista Express has a built-in grinder with steel conical burrs and 16 grind settings. It grinds straight into the portafilter, so you can go from whole beans to a shot with one machine.
The Bambino Plus has no grinder, so you need a separate one that can grind fine enough for espresso. Espresso is very sensitive to grind size, and pre-ground coffee loses flavor quickly and often isn’t ground fine enough, so a good grinder matters as much as the machine. Breville sells the Bambino Plus bundled with a Baratza Encore ESP espresso grinder for $649.95, about $50 less than the Barista Express.
A separate grinder has an upside, too: you can upgrade it later without replacing the machine.
Price: Closer Than It Looks
On its own, the Bambino Plus costs $499.95, $200 less than the Barista Express at $699.95. Both sold for those prices on Amazon in October 2026. Once you add a grinder, the gap mostly disappears: the Bambino Plus and Baratza bundle costs $649.95, so the real question is which features you want, not which is cheaper.
If you already own a good espresso grinder, the Bambino Plus is the clear value.
Milk Frothing: The Bambino Plus Makes It Easy
The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand. You set one of 3 milk temperatures and 3 texture levels, place the included jug under the wand, and it textures the milk for you, then purges the wand automatically. You can also steam manually if you want to learn latte art.
The Barista Express has a manual steam wand, so you control the pitcher, the angle, and when to stop. It can make excellent microfoam, but it takes practice. If you make milk drinks every day and don’t want to learn that skill, the Bambino Plus is much easier.
Heat-Up Time: The Bambino Plus Is Faster
The Bambino Plus uses Breville’s ThermoJet heater, which Breville says reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds.
The Barista Express uses the older Thermocoil system, which needs more time to warm up before your first shot. Both use PID control to hold a steady brewing temperature once they’re warm.
Brewing Controls
Both machines have 1 and 2 cup shot buttons. The Bambino Plus uses low-pressure pre-infusion and then a 9-bar extraction from a 15-bar pump, and it keeps its controls simple, with a few buttons and no display.
The Barista Express adds an analog pressure gauge, a grind-amount dial, and a manual shot option. The gauge gives you useful feedback as you learn to dial in, since a shot that runs at too low or too high a pressure points to a grind that’s too coarse or too fine.
Size and Counter Space
The Bambino Plus is one of Breville’s smallest espresso machines, at about 7.5 inches wide, roughly half the width of the Barista Express at 15.9 inches. It fits easily in a small kitchen, though you’ll need room for a grinder next to it. The Express takes up more space but replaces two appliances.
The water tanks are nearly the same size, at 64 ounces for the Bambino Plus and 67 ounces for the Express.
Warranty
The Bambino Plus comes with a two-year limited warranty, according to its Amazon listing, double the Barista Express’s one year.
Which Should You Buy?
- Buy the Bambino Plus if you mostly make lattes and cappuccinos, want automatic milk frothing, want a machine that’s ready in seconds, have a small kitchen, or already own a good grinder.
- Buy the Barista Express if you want an all-in-one machine with a built-in grinder, like the pressure gauge for learning, and are willing to practice steaming milk.
- Look at the Barista Pro if you want the Express’s built-in grinder with the Bambino Plus’s 3-second ThermoJet heating. Our Barista Express vs. Barista Pro comparison covers it.
For more on the Express, see our Breville Barista Express review, and for other options, see our guide to the best home espresso machines.
