Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Which to Buy?

Buy the standard Bambinoif you want to save money and are willing to learn the steam wand — you get the exact same espresso engine, a real barista skill, and the lowest price of the two. Buy the Bambino Plusif your whole reason for owning an espresso machine is a reliable latte or cappuccino every morning with no practice: its automatic steam wand textures milk to a temperature and consistency you set, and it throws in a bigger water tank and a drier puck for less mess. Same espresso, two different milk experiences — that's the decision in one sentence.

It's worth being clear about how much these machines have in common, because it's most of the machine. Both use Breville's ThermoJet heating system, which reaches extraction temperature in about three seconds— the single feature that keeps people brewing daily instead of giving up on a slow warm-up. Both run a real 54mm portafilter, both use a 15-bar Italian pump that delivers 9 bar at the puck, and both apply low-pressure pre-infusion that gently wets the coffee before full pressure for a more even extraction.

Both are also single-thermocoil machines, which means you brew, then steamrather than doing both at once — back-to-back milk drinks take a beat longer than on a dual-boiler machine, on either model. And both ship with baskets for two skill levels: a forgiving pressurized (dual-wall) basket that forces crema from almost any grind, and a non-pressurized (single-wall) basket that rewards a good grinder with a higher ceiling. In other words, the espresso half of this decision is a tie. If you want the deep-dive on that shared engine, our Breville Bambino review covers it in full.

The physical machine is nearly the same too. Both are toaster-sized, stainless-fronted units with the same small footprint that fits almost any counter, and neither includes a grinder — so both depend on a separate burr grinder to reach their potential, and both share the same limitation that a cheap grinder will hold either one back. Set the two next to each other and you'd struggle to tell them apart until you use the wand. That's the whole point of this comparison: you're not choosing a better espresso machine, you're choosing how much of the milk work you want to do yourself.

Three things separate the Plus from the base Bambino. One of them matters a lot; the other two are nice-to-haves.

1. The steam wand: manual vs automatic. This is the whole reason the Plus exists. The standard Bambino has a manual steam wand— you control the milk yourself, judging temperature by feel and building microfoam by ear and touch. It's a genuine skill, and a rewarding one, but there is a learning curve. The Bambino Plus adds an automatic steam wand with 3 adjustable milk temperatures and 3 texture levels: you set it, tuck the wand into the pitcher, and it heats and textures the milk to a stop, then shuts off — hands-free microfoam with no thermometer and no practice. It keeps a manual mode too, so you can still steam by hand if you want to learn. If milk drinks are the point, this is the feature you're buying. New to steaming? Our how to steam milk guide walks through doing it by hand on the base model.

Why does this one feature justify a whole separate model? Because steaming milk to smooth, glossy microfoam is the single skill most new espresso owners struggle with — it's where lattes go wrong, and it's the reason many people quietly stop making milk drinks at home. The manual wand on the base Bambino rewards practice, but it does take practice: reading the pitcher by touch, stopping at the right temperature, and stretching the milk without big bubbles. The Plus's automatic wand sidesteps all of that with repeatable, set-and-walk-away results, at the cost of the fine, moment-to-moment control an experienced hand keeps. Which side of that trade you want is the real question this comparison is asking.

2. The water tank. The base Bambino carries a 47 oz / 1.4 L tank; the Plus steps up to 64 oz / 1.9 L. It's a small thing day to day, but if you make several milk drinks each morning — steaming uses water too — the larger reservoir means fewer refills, which quietly adds to the Plus's "set it and forget it" feel.

3. The 3-way solenoid valve. The Plus has a 3-way solenoid valve that releases pressure the instant the shot ends, so the used puck comes out drier and the portafilter doesn't "sneeze" when you unlock it. The base Bambino omits it, so its pucks are wetter and messier to knock out. It changes nothing about the espresso in the cup — it's purely a cleanliness and cleanup upgrade — but it's a real, tangible difference owners notice.

The two side by side. Everything above the milk line is shared; everything below it is where your money goes. Tap a "view" button for the live Amazon price — the number shown at checkout is the one that applies.

Prices shown are from Amazon as of Sep 2, 2026 and change often — the button always goes to the current listing. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Buy the standard Bambino (BES450) ifyou want the most espresso machine for the least money and you're open to learning the steam wand. You lose nothing on the espresso side, you pocket the price difference — useful, because that money is far better spent on a real grinder — and you pick up a skill that transfers to any machine you own later. The honest cons: the manual wand takes practice before your microfoam is latte-art smooth, the smaller tank needs refilling a little more often, and the wetter puck is slightly messier to clean. If you find the ritual rewarding rather than a chore, this is the smarter value.

Buy the Bambino Plus (BES500) ifa good latte, flat white or cappuccino every morning is the whole reason you're buying, and you'd rather not learn to steam. The automatic wand removes the single hardest beginner skill and delivers consistent microfoam at the press of a button, the bigger tank means fewer refills, and the drier puck keeps cleanup tidy. The honest cons: it costs more, and purists will still prefer steaming by hand for full control — the auto wand is excellent for everyday drinks but doesn't give you the same fine command as a practiced manual technique. If convenience is worth the premium to you, it's money well spent. It's also our pick in the best latte machine roundup for exactly this reason.

Because the espresso is identical, this is one of the cleaner buying decisions in home coffee. If milk drinks with zero skill are the goal, the Bambino Plusis worth the step up: the automatic wand genuinely works, and the bigger tank and drier puck make it the more hands-off machine of the two. If you want the same shots for less and you're willing to learn the wand — a skill that pays off for the life of the hobby — the standard Bambino is the better value, and it frees up budget for the grinder that matters more than either machine. Decide how you want to steam milk, and the model picks itself.

Still weighing the base model on its own? Read our full Breville Bambino review. Want to see both against everything else in the price bracket? Start with the best espresso machines under $500.