Breville Bambino Plus Review: The Best First Espresso Machine (After 2 Years of Daily Use)
★ The Verdict
The Bambino Plus is the machine I recommend to every person who asks me where to start with home espresso. After two years of daily use, it's still the right answer for most people — and here's exactly why.
The Bambino Plus is the machine I recommend to every person who asks me where to start with home espresso.
I’ve been pulling shots on mine every single morning for two years. It sits on my counter, it heats up in 3 seconds, and it has never let me down. Before I get into the details — that’s the bottom line.
Why the Bambino Plus hits the sweet spot
Home espresso machines exist on a spectrum. At one end you have super-automatics that do everything for you and produce mediocre espresso. At the other end you have lever machines and temperature-controlled prosumer gear that require serious investment and skill.
The Bambino Plus lives in exactly the right middle ground for most people.
It produces genuinely good espresso. It’s learnable without being frustrating. It doesn’t require a degree in fluid dynamics to operate. And it costs around $500 — real money, but not “I have to think about this for six months” money.
What makes it different: the key features
Thermojet heating system. The Bambino Plus reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds. This sounds like a spec sheet claim but it’s real and it changes how you use the machine. You don’t schedule your morning around the machine warming up. You wake up, you grind, you pull a shot. That’s it.
54mm portafilter. This is standard espresso hardware and it means you have access to a wide ecosystem of aftermarket baskets, tampers, and accessories. The IMS competition basket is a popular upgrade that noticeably improves consistency.
Automatic steam wand. The Plus version of the Bambino has a steam wand that senses temperature and stops automatically. You don’t have to monitor the milk. Point the wand in, hit the button, pull it out when the pitcher feels right. It won’t produce latte art competition microfoam, but it makes genuinely drinkable flat whites and cappuccinos.
Built-in pre-infusion. Before the full pressure shot, the machine wets the puck at low pressure. This helps saturate the grounds evenly and reduces channeling. You don’t have to think about it — it happens automatically.
What a real morning looks like with this machine
My actual routine: grind beans while the machine warms up (those 3 seconds), dose into the portafilter, tamp, lock in, pull a 25-second shot into a preheated cup, steam milk if I’m making a flat white. Total active time: maybe 4 minutes. Cleanup adds another 90 seconds.
That’s it. That’s the whole ritual. It’s manageable on a weekday morning with two kids who need breakfast made simultaneously.
Who should buy the Bambino Plus
Buy it if: You’re new to home espresso. You want to learn without being overwhelmed. You make milk drinks. You don’t have a separate grinder yet (though you need one — the Bambino doesn’t include one). You value counter space. Your budget is $400-600.
Spend more if: You’re serious about pressure profiling, temperature surfing, or pulling competition-style shots. At that point look at the Breville Barista Pro, the Gaggia Classic Pro (manual, more learning curve), or a used Rancilio Silvia.
Spend less if: You truly just want something functional and are okay with more limitations. The base Bambino at around $300 is fine if you’re confident in your milk steaming technique.
How it compares to the competition
| Machine | Price | Heat-up time | Grinder included | Steam wand | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambino | ~$300 | 3 sec | No | Manual | Black espresso drinkers on a budget |
| Bambino Plus | ~$500 | 3 sec | No | Automatic | Beginners who want milk drinks |
| Barista Express | ~$700 | 30 sec | Yes (built-in) | Manual | All-in-one convenience |
| Gaggia Classic Pro | ~$450 | 10–15 min | No | Commercial steam | Enthusiasts who want to learn manual technique |
The Barista Express is tempting because the grinder is built in, but the grinder quality is average and you’re locked into it. I’d rather pair a Bambino Plus with a standalone grinder you can upgrade independently.
Honest weaknesses
No machine is perfect. The Bambino Plus has real limitations you should know before buying:
No PID temperature control. The Thermojet is fast but doesn’t give you the fine-grained temperature control that a PID does. For light roasts that want lower brew temps, this can matter.
No pressure profiling. You get one pressure profile: 9 bars at full extraction. No pre-infusion ramp control, no declining pressure curves. Fine for most people, limiting for obsessives.
Small drip tray. It fills up faster than you’d expect. Empty it often.
54mm vs 58mm. Most high-end machines use 58mm portafilters. The 54mm means some aftermarket accessories aren’t compatible. It’s not a dealbreaker but worth knowing.
Bottom line
After two years of daily use, I’d buy the Bambino Plus again without hesitation. It’s made good espresso every single morning and it’s never broken down. The automatic steam wand is genuinely useful. The 3-second heat-up time is a real quality-of-life improvement.
If you’re asking me where to start with home espresso, this is where to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it?
Yes. The Bambino Plus hits a sweet spot that very few machines at any price point do: it produces genuinely good espresso, it heats up in 3 seconds, it has an automatic steam wand that makes decent milk drinks achievable for beginners, and it doesn't take up much counter space. After two years of daily use I'd buy it again.
What grinder pairs best with the Bambino Plus?
The Baratza Encore ESP is the most commonly recommended pairing — it's purpose-built for espresso, reliable, and pairs well with the Bambino's 54mm portafilter. If you want to spend less, the Timemore C3S hand grinder punches well above its price. If you want to spend more, the DF54 or Niche Zero are excellent but potentially overkill for a Bambino setup.
How long does the Bambino Plus take to heat up?
3 seconds. This is one of the Bambino Plus's defining features — the Thermojet heating system gets to brewing temperature almost instantly. There's no waiting around for 20-30 minutes like older heat exchanger machines. You push the button, you wait three seconds, you pull your shot.
Can a beginner use the Bambino Plus?
Yes, and it's actually one of the better beginner machines because of how it's designed. The auto-steam wand handles milk temperature and texture automatically. The pre-infusion is built in. You still need to dial in your grind and dose — that learning curve exists on any machine — but the Bambino doesn't punish you for small mistakes the way a less forgiving machine would.
What is the difference between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus?
The key difference is the steam wand. The base Bambino has a manual steam wand that requires technique to use well. The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand that senses temperature and produces consistent microfoam without much skill. For beginners who want lattes or cappuccinos, the Plus is worth the price difference. For black espresso drinkers, the base Bambino is fine.