"Breville Barista Express vs. Bambino Plus: Which Espresso Machine Should You Buy?"

By the The Coffee Brew Guide team · Updated October 2026 · 4 min read

"Barista Express or Bambino Plus? We compare grinders, heat-up time, and milk texturing to help you pick the right Breville."

We independently research every product using published specs and real-world use cases. When you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Breville's two most popular home machines solve different problems: one gives you a built-in grinder and more manual control, the other gives you speed and jaw-dropping milk texture in a tiny footprint. If you've been going back and forth between the <a class="btn" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Breville+Barista+Express&tag=backuppowerce-20">Check price on Amazon →</a> and the <a class="btn" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Breville+Bambino+Plus&tag=backuppowerce-20">Check price on Amazon →</a>, here's what actually separates them.

Our top picks

Best all-in-one

Breville Barista Express

Our rating: ★★★★½ 4.5

Semi-automatic with built-in grinder · Integrated conical burr grinder, 54mm, 15-bar, single-boiler ThermoCoil · around $700

Pros

Grinder and machine in one box - grind straight into the portafilter
Dose and grind dialing let you learn real espresso technique
One appliance replaces a machine plus a grinder on your counter

Cons

Single boiler means a short wait to switch from brew to steam
Built-in grinder is good, not great - serious users upgrade later

Check price on Amazon →

Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.

The Barista Express is the one to buy if you don't already own a grinder and don't want to buy one separately. Its built-in conical burr grinder with 25 settings lets you dial in grind size right at the machine, and the dose-and-tamp workflow is genuinely good for a first espresso machine. The trade-off is counter space and a single ThermoCoil boiler that needs a minute or so to stabilize between back-to-back drinks.

Best for speed and small kitchens

Breville Bambino Plus

Our rating: ★★★★½ 4.6

Compact semi-automatic espresso machine · ThermoJet 3s heat-up, 54mm portafilter, 15-bar, auto milk texturing · around $500

Pros

Heats up in about 3 seconds - fastest in its class
Automatic milk texturing hits a set temp and froth level hands-free
Tiny footprint; real 54mm portafilter and 9-bar extraction

Cons

No built-in grinder - budget for a separate burr grinder
Small 1.4L tank and drip tray fill up fast

Check price on Amazon →

Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.

The Bambino Plus skips the grinder entirely, which keeps it narrow enough for a tight counter, and its ThermoJet boiler heats in about 3 seconds flat — you can go from cold to pulling a shot almost instantly. Its automatic milk texturing is the best in this price range for walk-up-and-go lattes. You'll need a separate burr grinder to get the most out of it, which adds cost but also lets you upgrade your grind quality independently later.

If you want a real 58mm portafilter

Gaggia Classic Pro

Our rating: ★★★★½ 4.5

Entry prosumer espresso machine · 58mm commercial portafilter, 3-way solenoid, single boiler, 15-bar OPV · around $450

Pros

Full 58mm commercial portafilter - the enthusiast standard
Hugely moddable (PID and 9-bar OPV spring) and repairable for years
3-way solenoid dumps pressure for a dry, clean puck

Cons

Steam wand and no-PID temperature take practice to master
No grinder; the learning curve is steeper than a Breville

Check price on Amazon →

Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.

Not a Breville, but worth knowing about: the Gaggia Classic Pro uses a commercial 58mm portafilter and a 3-way solenoid valve, which gives you access to the huge aftermarket of baskets, bottomless portafilters, and mods that neither Breville accepts. It's more of a project machine, but it rewards tinkering.

Smallest footprint, lowest price

De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885

Our rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2

Slim budget espresso machine · 15cm-wide thermoblock, 15-bar, manual steam wand, 51mm pressurized basket · around $230

Pros

Only 15cm (6 in) wide - the pick for tiny kitchens
Real steam wand (older Dedica used an auto frother)
Low entry price for a true pump espresso machine

Cons

Pressurized 51mm basket limits how good the shot can get
Small tank and lightweight build; not a forever machine

Check price on Amazon →

Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.

If both Brevilles feel like overkill, the Dedica Arte is 15cm wide and heats fast off a thermoblock. It's the budget option here, with a pressurized basket that's more forgiving of so-so grind consistency but caps how far you can push shot quality.

Compare the specs

Model	Type	Key spec	Price	Rating
De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885	Slim budget espresso machine	15cm-wide thermoblock, 15-bar, manual steam wand, 51mm pressurized basket	~$230	4.2 ★	Price →
Gaggia Classic Pro	Entry prosumer espresso machine	58mm commercial portafilter, 3-way solenoid, single boiler, 15-bar OPV	~$450	4.5 ★	Price →
Breville Bambino Plus	Compact semi-automatic espresso machine	ThermoJet 3s heat-up, 54mm portafilter, 15-bar, auto milk texturing	~$500	4.6 ★	Price →
Breville Barista Express	Semi-automatic with built-in grinder	Integrated conical burr grinder, 54mm, 15-bar, single-boiler ThermoCoil	~$700	4.5 ★	Price →

How to choose

Do you already own a grinder? If yes, the Bambino Plus is the better value — you're not paying for a second grinder bolted onto the machine. If no, factor in the cost of a decent one; our grinder matters more than the machine guide explains why skimping here hurts espresso more than skimping on the machine itself.
How many drinks do you make in a row? The Bambino's ThermoJet recovers almost instantly between shots and steam, which matters if you're making drinks for a houseful of people. The Barista Express's single boiler needs a short pause to switch between brewing and steaming.
Counter space is real. The Bambino Plus is noticeably more compact. If your kitchen counter is already crowded with a kettle, toaster, and grinder, that narrower footprint is worth something.
Milk routine matters. The Bambino's automatic milk texturing (set your temp and froth level, walk away) is friendlier for daily lattes than the Barista Express's manual wand, which takes longer to learn but gives more control once you do.
Budget for upgrades. Both machines use 54mm portafilters, which is a step up from the smaller pressurized baskets on cheaper machines, but neither accepts the wider 58mm commercial gear the Gaggia Classic Pro does — something to consider if you think you'll want to upgrade baskets or bottomless portafilters down the line.

If you're still deciding whether a semi-automatic machine is the right category at all versus letting a machine handle the whole process, our best espresso machine for beginners guide and our best super-automatic espresso machine roundup (think Philips 3200 or Jura E8-level machines) are worth a read before you commit.

FAQ

Is the built-in grinder on the Barista Express actually good?

Can I buy a cheap grinder for the Bambino Plus instead?

Which one makes better milk texture for lattes?

Bottom line

If you need one box that does it all, the <div class="pick"><div class="media"><img src="/img/espresso-machine.jpg" alt="Breville Barista Express" loading="lazy"></div><div class="pbody"><span class="tag">Breville Barista Express</span><div class="head"><h3>Breville Barista Express</h3><span class="rating">Our rating: <span class="stars">★★★★½</span> 4.5</span></div><p class="specs">Semi-automatic with built-in grinder · Integrated conical burr grinder, 54mm, 15-bar, single-boiler ThermoCoil · around $700</p><div class="pc"><div><h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Grinder and machine in one box - grind straight into the portafilter</li><li>Dose and grind dialing let you learn real espresso technique</li><li>One appliance replaces a machine plus a grinder on your counter</li></ul></div><div><h4>Cons</h4><ul><li>Single boiler means a short wait to switch from brew to steam</li><li>Built-in grinder is good, not great - serious users upgrade later</li></ul></div></div><a class="btn" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Breville+Barista+Express&tag=backuppowerce-20">Check price on Amazon →</a><p class="note">Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.</p></div></div> is the more complete starter kit. If you already have a grinder, want faster heat-up, or are tighter on counter space, the <div class="pick"><div class="media"><img src="/img/espresso-machine.jpg" alt="Breville Bambino Plus" loading="lazy"></div><div class="pbody"><span class="tag">Breville Bambino Plus</span><div class="head"><h3>Breville Bambino Plus</h3><span class="rating">Our rating: <span class="stars">★★★★½</span> 4.6</span></div><p class="specs">Compact semi-automatic espresso machine · ThermoJet 3s heat-up, 54mm portafilter, 15-bar, auto milk texturing · around $500</p><div class="pc"><div><h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Heats up in about 3 seconds - fastest in its class</li><li>Automatic milk texturing hits a set temp and froth level hands-free</li><li>Tiny footprint; real 54mm portafilter and 9-bar extraction</li></ul></div><div><h4>Cons</h4><ul><li>No built-in grinder - budget for a separate burr grinder</li><li>Small 1.4L tank and drip tray fill up fast</li></ul></div></div><a class="btn" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Breville+Bambino+Plus&tag=backuppowerce-20">Check price on Amazon →</a><p class="note">Price and availability last checked October 2026. We may earn a commission — it never changes our pick.</p></div></div> is the smarter buy — just budget for a grinder if you don't have one yet.