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Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Which to Buy?
TL;DR: The Bambino Plus is worth the extra $100 for most buyers — it adds automatic steam wand milk texturing, a wider temperature range, and faster heat-up. If you make black espresso only or are on a tight budget, the standard Bambino delivers the same shot quality at a lower price.
What’s Actually Different Between These Two Machines
The core difference is the steam wand. The Bambino has a manual steam wand requiring hands-on technique; the Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand that textures milk to a set temperature with minimal skill. Everything else — boiler, portafilter, pump, shot quality — is nearly identical. Budget buyers who drink black espresso should stop here: get the Bambino.
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Both machines share Breville’s ThermoJet heating system, which reaches brew temperature in 3 seconds. That’s not marketing — it’s genuinely faster than any thermoblock or single boiler competitor at this price point. The 54mm portafilter is Breville’s standard semi-commercial size, and the 9-bar OPV (over-pressure valve) is pre-set — no user adjustment needed or available.
Where they diverge matters mostly to milk drink drinkers. The Plus also adds three temperature settings (low / medium / high) versus the Bambino’s single brew temperature, which helps dialing in light roasts that extract better at slightly lower temps.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Feature | Bambino | Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | ~$300 | ~$400 |
| Boiler type | ThermoJet | ThermoJet |
| Heat-up time | 3 sec | 3 sec |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| PID | Yes | Yes |
| Pump | Vibration | Vibration |
| Steam wand | Manual | Auto (temp-controlled) |
| Brew temp settings | 1 | 3 |
| Auto purge after steam | No | Yes |
| Milk jug sensor | No | Yes |
Steam Wand: Where the Machines Split
The Bambino’s manual wand requires you to control angle, depth, and duration — standard barista skill. The Bambino Plus introduces milk temperature sensing and stops automatically at your set target (140°F / 155°F / 170°F). For beginners making lattes daily, this difference is enormous. For experienced home baristas, the manual wand is fine and some prefer the control.
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The auto steam on the Plus isn’t magic — it won’t fix bad positioning or a dirty wand — but it removes the single hardest variable for new users: knowing when to stop. Scorched milk and flat cappuccinos are the most common beginner frustrations, and the Plus directly solves both.
One underrated Plus feature: auto-purge. After steaming, the machine automatically purges the wand to clear residual milk from the tip. On the Bambino, you must remember to do this manually every time, or you’ll be scrubbing baked-on milk daily.
Shot Quality: Is There a Difference?
No. Both machines pull identical espresso. Same ThermoJet boiler, same 9-bar OPV, same 54mm portafilter basket geometry, same PID temperature control. Shot quality is determined by your grind, dose, and tamp — not which Bambino you buy.
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The Bambino Plus’s three temperature settings do give experienced users a small dial to work with — a cooler setting (low) can benefit very light or acidic single-origin beans, while higher temp suits darker roasts. But the difference is subtle and only noticeable once your grind and technique are already dialed in.
Equipment Specs (Coffee Module A)
Spec Table
| Feature | Bambino | Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler type | ThermoJet (single) | ThermoJet (single) |
| Portafilter size | 54mm | 54mm |
| PID | Yes | Yes |
| Pump type | Vibration (15-bar rated, 9-bar OPV) | Vibration (15-bar rated, 9-bar OPV) |
| Burr size | N/A (no grinder) | N/A (no grinder) |
Comparison Table
| Machine | Price | Boiler | Portafilter | PID | Pump | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino |
Verdict by User Archetype
Milk drinker (lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites): Bambino Plus, no hesitation. The auto steam wand and auto-purge remove the two biggest frustrations in daily use. The $100 premium pays for itself in saved milk and sanity within the first month.
Espresso purist (blacks, macchiatos, no milk): Bambino. You’re paying for shot quality only, and both machines deliver the same thing. Put the $100 toward a better grinder — that will improve your shots far more than any machine upgrade.
Convenience-first buyer: Bambino Plus. The auto-everything workflow — 3-second heat-up, auto steam to set temp, auto purge — fits the “fast morning routine” use case better than any manual-step alternative at this price.
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What Both Machines Get Right
Both Bambinos share a genuinely impressive feature for the price: the 3-second ThermoJet heat-up. At $300–$400, most competitors still use thermoblock or single-boiler designs that require 20–30 seconds to reach temperature. Breville’s ThermoJet is a meaningful engineering advantage here, not a spec sheet number.
Both also include a proper pre-infusion phase — low pressure water saturation of the puck before full 9-bar extraction begins. At sub-$500 prices, this is uncommon and reduces channeling on imperfect pucks.
The 54mm portafilter is a reasonable size that accepts third-party baskets and accessories. Breville’s own precision baskets are included and genuinely improve extraction consistency over standard commercial baskets.
What Both Machines Get Wrong
Neither machine has a pressure gauge — you’re flying blind on extraction pressure without a portafilter gauge aftermarket add-on. Both use vibration pumps, which are audibly louder than rotary pumps. Neither offers a hot water dispenser, making americanos mildly inconvenient.
The steam boiler and brew boiler share the same ThermoJet element, meaning you can’t steam and brew simultaneously. This is standard at this price, but worth knowing if you’re entertaining.
→ See Also
- The Complete Guide to Espresso Machines (2026)
- Best Espresso Machine Under $200 (2026)
- Best Espresso Machine Under $500 (2026)
FAQ
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth the extra $100 over the Bambino? For milk drink drinkers: yes, clearly. The auto steam wand, temperature control, and auto-purge add genuine daily-use value that beginners will notice immediately. For black espresso drinkers, the extra $100 is wasted — both machines pull identical shots.
Does the Breville Bambino make good espresso? Yes. The ThermoJet heating system, 9-bar OPV, and PID temperature control produce espresso that competes with machines twice the price. The limiting factor at this price point is almost always the grinder, not the machine itself.
What grinder should I pair with the Bambino or Bambino Plus? A burr grinder capable of espresso-range fineness is essential. The Baratza Encore ESP, Timemore C3 Pro, and Breville Smart Grinder Pro are common pairings in this machine’s price bracket. Avoid blade grinders entirely — they produce inconsistent particle sizes that make dialing in espresso nearly impossible.
Can beginners use the Bambino’s manual steam wand? Yes, but expect a learning curve of several weeks before producing consistent microfoam. The technique — submerging the tip just below the surface, maintaining a vortex, timing by feel — is learnable but not intuitive. The Bambino Plus removes this barrier with its auto steam system.
How long do Bambino machines typically last? With routine descaling every 2–3 months and daily backflushing, most users report 4–6 years of regular use before significant issues. The vibration pump is the most common failure point. Breville’s US support and part availability are reasonable, and third-party repair guides exist for both models.
Is the Bambino Plus discontinued? As of 2026, both machines remain in active production. Breville has updated colorways but not the core engineering since the Plus’s introduction. Check retailer availability, as stock can fluctuate.
Editorial methodology: Assessments are based on manufacturer specifications, published user reviews, and editorial research. Physical hands-on testing is noted explicitly where it occurred. Rankings reflect our editorial judgment and are not influenced by affiliate commission rates. Full editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure
