Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine Review

Overview

The Breville Bambino Plus is a compact, semi automatic espresso machine aimed at home drinkers who want real espresso and silky milk without a giant machine on the counter. It heats in about 3 seconds, pulls volumetric single and double shots, and offers automatic milk steaming with adjustable temperature and texture. On paper it promises barista style drinks with beginner friendly automation, all in a footprint roughly the size of a toaster.

In daily use, the Bambino Plus mostly delivers on that promise. It cannot replace a prosumer machine for heavy entertaining, and it does require a good grinder, but it makes impressive espresso for its size and price. The key question is whether its strengths line up with what you actually need at home.

Who it is for

The Bambino Plus suits someone who values quality but also speed and simplicity. If you want better espresso than a pod machine can deliver, yet feel intimidated by fully manual gear, this is a thoughtful middle ground. The machine automates the fiddly parts of temperature management and milk steaming while still giving you a sense of involvement.

It is especially good for small households that make one to four drinks at a time. The compact body fits in tight kitchens or on a crowded apartment counter, and the quick startup makes it realistic to pull a shot before work. It is also a strong choice if you care about milk drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, since its auto steam wand produces reliably fine microfoam once you learn the settings.

On the other hand, the Bambino Plus is not ideal if you want true one button convenience or zero cleanup. In that case, a capsule system such as a Nespresso might suit you better. It is also not the best fit if you plan to make many back to back drinks for guests, or if you want deep control over every variable the way a prosumer machine allows.

Design, build, and footprint

The Bambino Plus has a narrow 54 millimeter portafilter and a slim body, so it takes up much less counter space than many traditional machines. The stainless steel exterior looks clean and modern, and it blends easily with most kitchen styles. At around 12 inches tall, it slides under standard upper cabinets with a bit of room to spare for filling the top mounted water tank.

The controls are intentionally minimal. You get illuminated buttons for single and double shot, plus milk temperature and texture indicators for the auto steam wand. There are no screens, menus, or complicated programming steps. New users can be pulling drinkable shots within a day, yet there is enough consistency built in that more experienced home baristas can still dial in flavor.

Build quality is solid for the price bracket. The chassis feels sturdy, and the portafilter has a decent heft, though some parts like the drip tray and plastic tamper feel lighter and less premium. The removable water tank is large enough for several drinks in a row and has a simple handle that makes refilling easy at the sink.

How it feels and performs

The headline feature is speed. Thanks to Breville’s ThermoJet heating system, the Bambino Plus is ready to pull a shot in about 3 seconds from cold. In practice, you still want to run a quick blank shot to warm the portafilter, but you can go from turning it on to drinking a latte in roughly 2 to 3 minutes, which is very reasonable for a weekday morning.

Shot quality is impressive once you pair the machine with a capable burr grinder. The Bambino Plus uses low pressure pre infusion to gently saturate the puck, then ramps up to full pressure for extraction. You get standard volumetric control, so single and double buttons deliver consistent volumes, and you can reprogram them if you prefer a slightly different yield.

With fresh beans and a good grind, espresso from the Bambino Plus has a thick, hazelnut crema and balanced flavor that easily beats pod based machines and many entry level setups. You can taste the difference between lighter and darker roasts, and the machine has enough headroom to pull proper 1 to 2 ratio shots, not just long, weak coffee.

The automatic steam wand is another standout. You simply insert the wand into a pitcher of milk, select a temperature and texture level, and press a button. The wand handles steaming and texturing, then stops itself and purges when finished. At medium settings, it creates glossy microfoam that is well suited for latte art practice and smooth cappuccinos.

There are limits. The Bambino Plus does not have the same steaming power as a full size commercial style machine, so large pitchers for multiple drinks will take longer. The small drip tray fills quickly if you are purging, and the machine can be a bit noisy during pumping and steaming, though it is not louder than most home espresso units. Under heavy back to back use, the compact body can also get warm, which is a reminder that this is designed for light to moderate duty, not a party crowd.

How to use for best results

To get the best from the Bambino Plus, plan on pairing it with a decent burr grinder and fresh whole beans. This machine is capable of real espresso, and pre ground coffee rarely does it justice. Aim for a grind that allows a double shot to extract in roughly 25 to 35 seconds from the moment the pump starts, adjusting finer if shots run too fast and coarser if they choke the machine.

For daily workflow, let the machine heat, then lock an empty portafilter in place and run a blank shot to warm the metal. Dry the basket, dose your ground coffee, and distribute it evenly before tamping. Breville includes both pressurized and non pressurized baskets; beginners may find the pressurized versions more forgiving, while experienced users often prefer the flavor clarity of the non pressurized baskets.

After tamping, lock in the portafilter and start your shot. Watch how the espresso flows. A steady, honey like stream that blondes near the end is a sign you are close to dialed in. If it gushes, adjust the grinder to a finer setting; if nothing happens for several seconds then the machine struggles, go coarser or use a bit less coffee.

For milk drinks, start with cold milk and a chilled pitcher, filled to just below where the spout starts to curve. Insert the steam wand so the tip is just below the surface, select your preferred temperature and texture, and start the auto cycle. You will hear the initial aeration as air is introduced, then a quieter stretching phase while the milk swirls. When the machine beeps and stops, tap the pitcher on the counter and swirl to integrate the foam, then pour immediately for the smoothest texture.

Regular cleaning protects flavor and extends the machine’s life. Flush water through the group head after each session, wipe and purge the steam wand every time you steam milk, and empty the drip tray daily. The Bambino Plus also has a cleaning cycle and descaling prompts; following these when indicated helps prevent scale buildup that can affect temperature stability and pump performance.

Pros and cons

Here are the most important advantages and trade offs to weigh before buying the Breville Bambino Plus.

Pros

• Extremely fast heat up, so you can make drinks on busy mornings without long warmup times.
• Compact footprint that fits small kitchens yet still accommodates mugs and a milk pitcher comfortably.
• Automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture, capable of smooth microfoam for latte art.
• Consistent volumetric shot control with low pressure pre infusion for more even extraction.
• Beginner friendly baskets and controls, with room to grow into more advanced puck prep and dialing in.

Cons

• No built in grinder, which adds cost and counter space requirements for a separate burr grinder.
• Plastic accessories like the tamper and included milk pitcher feel basic and are likely upgrade candidates.
• Smaller drip tray that needs frequent emptying if you purge often or pull many shots in a row.
• Limited steaming power for large volumes of milk compared with bigger single boiler or dual boiler machines.
• Not ideal for heavy entertaining or for those who prefer one touch, fully automatic drink making.

Final verdict

The Breville Bambino Plus hits a thoughtful sweet spot for many home coffee drinkers. It delivers real espresso flavor and surprisingly refined milk texture in a compact, quick heating package that does not overwhelm new users with complexity. When paired with a good grinder, it produces drinks that can rival what you would buy at a neighborhood cafe.

You do sacrifice some features that higher end machines offer, like more powerful steaming, larger drip trays, and advanced pressure or temperature profiling. You also have to budget for and learn a grinder, which is essential if you want the machine to shine. For many shoppers, those trade offs are acceptable in exchange for speed, size, and price.

If your goal is to make one or two excellent lattes each morning and the occasional cappuccino for a friend, the Bambino Plus is easy to recommend. If you want effortless pods, a capsule system will be simpler, and if you imagine hosting espresso tasting parties, a higher capacity machine may suit you better. For the typical home kitchen, though, the Bambino Plus offers an appealing blend of performance, convenience, and value that makes it one of the best compact espresso machines in its class.

See also

If you are comparing compact espresso options, our Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe review pairs well with a look at the fully automatic DeLonghi Dinamica Plus for a broader sense of what is available.

• Read our hands on Ninja Coffee Bar review if you also brew drip or iced coffee regularly.
• See how Breville performs in blending with our detailed Breville Super Q blender review.
• For another versatile kitchen upgrade, check out our review of the Emeril Lagasse French Door air fryer oven.

FAQ

Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it compared with the standard Bambino?

The Bambino Plus costs more than the standard Bambino, but it adds an automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture along with a slightly larger footprint and drip tray. If you primarily drink milk based drinks or want the most forgiving steaming experience, the Plus is usually worth the upgrade. If you drink mainly straight espresso and plan to steam only occasionally, the regular Bambino can save money without sacrificing shot quality.

Do I need a separate grinder for the Bambino Plus, or can I use pre ground coffee?

The machine can technically use pre ground coffee, but you will not see its full potential that way. Espresso is sensitive to grind size and freshness, so a dedicated burr grinder makes a dramatic difference in flavor and crema. If a grinder does not fit your budget right away, you can start with pre ground beans, but plan to add a grinder as soon as you can for consistently good results.

How long does it take to make a latte with the Bambino Plus from a cold start?

Thanks to the fast heating system, the Bambino Plus is ready to pull a shot in about 3 seconds. In real use, you will spend a minute or two grinding, tamping, and warming the portafilter, then roughly 30 seconds to extract the shot and another 45 to 60 seconds to steam milk. In total, most users can go from cold machine to finished latte in about 3 minutes once they are familiar with the workflow.

Is the Breville Bambino Plus noisy during use?

Like most pump driven espresso machines, the Bambino Plus makes noticeable noise while pulling shots and steaming milk, but it is not unusually loud for its category. The vibration pump hums and the steam wand hisses during operation, then the machine is quiet when idle. If you are sensitive to noise, placing the machine on a silicone mat and avoiding late night back to back steaming sessions can help keep things from feeling disruptive.

How does the Bambino Plus compare to fully automatic espresso machines?

Fully automatic machines grind, dose, and pull shots at the press of a single button, and many also handle milk. They are more convenient but typically cost significantly more and can be harder to maintain or repair. The Bambino Plus sits between those systems and manual machines; you must grind and tamp yourself, but you gain better control over beans and grind while still enjoying helpful automation for temperature and milk steaming. If you enjoy being part of the process and value higher quality drinks, the Bambino Plus offers strong performance without the price tag of premium super automatics.

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