So you’re dreaming of cafe-quality espresso at home, but your kitchen counter is begging you not to get a hulking, complicated machine. I totally get it. That’s where the charming little breville bambino espresso machine comes in, promising pro results without the pro footprint or the pro-level learning curve. It’s a tempting little package, isn’t it?
But can this compact powerhouse really deliver a rich, creamy shot that rivals your local barista? We spent weeks pulling shots and steaming milk to see if it lives up to the hype. Here’s the real scoop on whether the Bambino is your perfect morning sidekick or if it’s simplicity comes with to many compromises.
Product Comparison Table: 11 Best Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
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CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Compact Espresso Maker…
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9.9 |
Read Review |
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CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Stainless Steel…
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9.7 |
Read Review |
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Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
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9.5 |
Read Review |
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Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL, Black Sesame
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9.3 |
Read Review |
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atatix Espresso Machine with Milk Frother, 20 Bar Pressure…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Breville Bambino Espresso Machine BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
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8.9 |
Read Review |
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(2025 Upgrade)20 Bar Espresso Machine with Built-in Anti-Clog Coffee…
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8.7 |
Read Review |
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Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine BES876BSS, Brushed Stainless…
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8.5 |
Read Review |
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Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
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8.3 |
Read Review |
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Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BTR, Black Truffle
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8.1 |
Read Review |
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Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500OLT, Olive Tapenade
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7.9 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 11 Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Compact Espresso Maker with Steam Milk Frother, Stainless Steel Coffee Machine with 34oz Removable Water Tank for Cappuccino, Gift for Women or Men, Silver
The CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine is a compact, 20-bar system designed to bring authentic cafe-style espresso into your kitchen. Its stainless steel build is both stylish and durable, fitting easily on a countertop in any size kitchen or even a office breakroom. At its core is a professional 20-bar pressure pump, which is key for extracting the full, rich flavor and fragrant aroma from your coffee grounds, producing a beautiful layer of crema on every shot.
This machine is a semi-automatic 2-in-1 system, meaning it gives you control over the brewing process. A helpful built-in pressure gauge lets you monitor the extraction in real-time, so you can make adjustments to suit your personal taste. Whether you prefer a single intense espresso or a double shot to share, the included single and double cup filters have you covered.
The 34-ounce removable water tank is a practical feature, allowing you to brew several cups before needing a refill and making it easy to fill at the sink. A standout feature is the integrated steam wand. This powerful frother lets you texture milk into creamy microfoam, which is essential for crafting lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. It opens the door to customizing your drinks and even trying your hand at simple milk art.
CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Stainless Steel Cappuccino & Latte Machine with Steam Frother for Home, 43.9oz Water Tank, Coffee Gift for Women & Men, Silver
The CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine is designed to bring the authentic cafe experience right into your kitchen. This stainless steel machine combines professional performance with a compact, user-friendly design, making it a practical choice for both beginners and experienced coffee enthusiasts.
At its core is a professional 20-bar pressure pump system. This high pressure is key for proper extraction, ensuring your espresso shots have a rich crema and full-bodied aroma.
It works with a powerful 1350W motor to consistently deliver that deep, fragrant coffee flavor that forms the foundation of all great espresso drinks. Whether you prefer a straight shot or something milk-based, this system provides the quality base you need.
Creating your favorite lattes and cappuccinos is straightforward with the intergrated steam wand. This wand gives you control to texture milk, producing a creamy microfoam that’s perfect for blending into your coffee.
It allows you to experiment with different milk consistencies for everything from a velvety flat white to a frothy cappuccino. You can even practice simple latte art once you get the hang of it.
The machine’s design prioritizes convenience without sacrificing style. Its compact footprint fits easily on countertops, even in smaller kitchens or offices. The 43.9 ounce water tank is removable, making refills simple and letting you brew several cups before needing more water.
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is designed for those who want a genuine cafe-quality experience at home, without the complexity. It’s an all-in-one machine that takes you from whole coffee beans to a finished shot of espresso in under a minute, putting a huge range of specialty coffee within your reach. The integrated grinder is a key part of this, ensuring every step is fresh and under your control. At its heart is the integrated precision conical burr grinder.
This isn’t a separate unit; it’s built right in. You can grind your beans directly into the portafilter right before you brew, which is crucial for flavor. The dose control dial lets you adjust the amount of coffee grounds, so you can fine-tune the strength to match your prefered beans, whether they’re a light or dark roast. This fresh, on-demand grinding makes a noticeable difference in the cup.
For the espresso extraction itself, the Barista Express uses smart technology to get the details right. It features digital temperature control (PID), which constantly regulates the water heater to deliver water at the exact right temperature. Consistency here is key for pulling a balanced shot every time. The machine also uses a low pressure pre-infusion phase.
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL, Black Sesame
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL in Black Sesame is designed for those who want authentic, barista-quality espresso without leaving the kitchen. It’s an all-in-one machine that combines a precision grinder and a semi-automatic espresso maker, guiding you from whole beans to a rich shot in under a minute.
This machine is built around what Breville calls the ‘4 keys formula,’ focusing on the essential elements for great espresso, and it integrates them into a single, countertop unit. At the heart of the experience is the integrated grinder. The Dose Control Grinding system features a conical burr grinder that mills your coffee beans on demand. This means you can adjust the grind size and dose directly into the portafilter, ensuring the coffee is as fresh as possible.
Whether you prefer a light or dark roast, this control lets you dial in the flavor profile to match your perferences exactly. The grinder is a key step that many cheaper machines overlook, but it’s crucial for extracting the full flavor. For the extraction itself, the Barista Express employs two smart technologies. First, Optimal Water Pressure starts with a low pressure pre-infusion. This gently wets the coffee puck, allowing it to expand and ‘bloom’ gradually before full pressure is applied.
atatix Espresso Machine with Milk Frother, 20 Bar Pressure Espresso Maker, with 44OZ Removable Tank, Compact Stainless Steel Coffee Machine for Home, Office, Latte, Cappuccino, Gift for Women or Men
The atatix Espresso Machine with Milk Frother is designed for anyone who wants real cafe-style coffee at home or in the office. It’s a compact, stainless steel machine that handles everything from a straight espresso to a creamy cappuccino, putting you in full control of your daily brew. Its core is a professional 20-bar pressure pump system. This is what professional machines use to generate the optimal 9-10 bars of pressure needed for a perfect extraction.
It fully saturates your coffee grounds to pull out deep, complex flavors and that rich, golden layer of crema on top of your espresso. Consistency is key, so the machine features precise NTC temperature control. It heats to the ideal 90-96°C range in about 30 seconds and locks it in. This means whether your beans are a fruity light roast or a chocolatey dark roast, the flavor profile comes through accurately every time, solving the problem of inconsistent shots. You have two ways to brew.
Use the automatic Espresso Mode for a hands-off approach: it pulls a single shot in 28 seconds or a double in 42. Or, switch to manual extraction for complete control. You can customize the brew time up to 102 seconds for a larger or more concentrated coffee, perfect for finding your personal sweet spot. The powerful steam wand is a standout. It delivers dry, focused steam to turn cold milk into velvety microfoam in seconds—not big, weak bubbles.
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Breville Bambino Espresso Machine BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel, is designed for those who take their morning ritual seriously. It brings core cafe performance into your kitchen without complicated proceedures. Its built around a 54mm portafilter that holds a proper 19-gram dose, which is key for getting a full, flavorful extraction from your specialty coffee. You won’t be compromising on your beans here. A major highlight is the automatic steam wand for milk texturing.
You simply select your preferred milk temperature and texture level, and the machine takes over. It delivers barista-quality microfoam handsfree, at the right temperature for drinking. This microfoam is essential for both enhancing flavor and enabling you to create latte art, making your homemade drinks look and taste professional. Speed is a significant advantage. The innovative Thermajet heating system reaches the optimum extraction temperature in just 3 seconds.
There’s no long wait for the machine to warm up; you can go from off to brewing almost instantly. This makes it practical for busy mornings when every minute counts. For the espresso extraction itself, the machine employs precise technology. Digital Temperature Control (PID) ensures water is delivered at exactly the right temperature, which is critical for optimal flavor. A low pressure pre-infusion function gradually increases pressure at the start of the brew.
(2025 Upgrade)20 Bar Espresso Machine with Built-in Anti-Clog Coffee Grinder, Expresso Coffee Machines with Milk Steam Wand/Frother/Tamping Tools,Espresso Maker with Grinder for Lattes-Charcoal
The (2025 Upgrade) 20 Bar Espresso Machine with Built-in Grinder in Charcoal is designed to bring reliable, cafe-quality coffee into your kitchen without the typical frustrations. Its core upgrade tackles the most common headache for all-in-one machines: the grinder clog. The new clog-crushing grind path uses a wider, polished chute and a reinforced auger to instantly eject coffee grounds.
This means you can use a wider variety of beans, including oily dark roasts, and expect a consistant, mess-free grind every single time. At its heart, this machine delivers 20 bars of professional pressure. This ideal pressure is crucial for extracting the full depth of flavor and rich aroma from your coffee, creating a shot with a beautiful layer of crema. It’s the foundation for any great espresso-based drink.
Paired with the built-in grinder, you get from whole bean to rich espresso in one seamless flow, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor in every shot. The integrated steam wand is your tool for crafting milk beverages. It produces barista-grade microfoam, which is the silky, velvety textured milk that sits atop lattes and flat whites. For cappuccinos, you can create a thicker, creamier froth.
Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine BES876BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine BES876BSS is designed to bridge the gap between manual control and automated assistance, helping you achieve third wave specialty coffee at home without the steep learning curve. Its core innovation is the Impress puck system, which guides you from grinding to tamping with remarkable ease. It starts with intelligent dosing.
The smart dosing system automatically calculates and adjusts the amount of fresh coffee grounds needed for a perfect dose, taking a major variable out of the equation. Even more impressively, it features precision measurement that auto-corrects the next dose based on your previous one, continuously refining the process for you. The integrated conical burr grinder offers 25 grind settings, giving you the flexability to fine-tune for different beans and your preferred extraction flavor.
The assisted tamping is where it truly shines. This feature replicates a professional barista’s action by providing a consistent 10kg of pressure and finishing with a 7-degree ‘barista twist.’ This ensures a polished, evenly compacted coffee puck, which is crucial for a balanced extraction and a clean portafilter face everytime.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel is designed for those who want a serious, cafe-quality espresso experience at home without the complexity or large size of traditional machines. It’s part of the Bambino Series, which focuses on a faster path to professional results in a compact footprint.
This machine is built around the ‘4 keys formula’ for third wave specialty coffee, meaning it’s engineered to hit the critical markers for a great shot: dose, grind, pressure, and temperature. You’ll appreciate the machines speed. The innovative ThermoJet heating system reaches the ideal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, so you’re not waiting around.
For the espresso itself, precise digital temperature control (PID) ensures water is delivered at exactly the right heat for optimal flavor extraction. The process begins with a low pressure pre-infusion, which gradually wets the coffee puck to help draw out all the flavors evenly before full pressure kicks in.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BTR, Black Truffle
The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BTR, Black Truffle is designed for those who want a serious, cafe-quality espresso experience at home without the complexity or large size of prosumer machines. It’s built around Breville’s “4 keys formula” for third wave specialty coffee, focusing on the essential elements for a great shot, all packed into a remarkably compact unit. A standout feature is it’s speed and consistency.
The ThermoJet heating system reaches the ideal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, so you’re not waiting around. This is paired with precise digital temperature control (PID), which ensures water is delivered at exactly the right heat for optimal flavor extraction every single time. The process is further refined by a low pressure pre-infusion. This gently wets the coffee puck first, before applying full pressure, which helps draw out all the flavors evenly for a balanced and nuanced cup.
For the coffee itself, the machine uses a 54mm portafilter that holds up to 19 grams of coffee. This larger size is key for full flavor, and it works best with dose-controlled grinding to ensure you use the right amount of grounds. The result is a rich, professional-quality espresso base. Milk steaming is where the “Plus” in the name really shows. The automatic steam wand takes the guesswork out of texturing milk.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500OLT, Olive Tapenade
The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500OLT is designed to bring the core principles of specialty, third-wave coffee into your kitchen without requiring a lot of space or expertise. It’s built around what Breville calls the 4 keys formula, focusing on the essential elements for a great shot: dose control, optimal water pressure, precise temperature, and quality milk texturing.
This machine aims to make that process faster and more accessible, offering professional results from a compact appliance. Starting with the basics, the Bambino Plus uses a 54mm portafilter that holds up to 19 grams of coffee. This size is key for achieving a full-flavored, cafe-quality extraction. For the best results, you’ll want to pair it with a good grinder to ensure a consistent dose. The machine then takes over with smart technology.
Its innovative ThermoJet heating system reaches the perfect extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, so you’re not waiting around. Once you start the shot, a low-pressure pre-infusion gently wets the coffee puck before gradually ramping up to optimal pressure. This helps draw out the flavors evenly for a balanced, non-bitter cup. Digital temperature control (PID) works behind the scenes to keep everything precise. For milk-based drinks, the Bambino Plus simplifies the trickiest part.
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine Buying Guide
The Breville Bambino Plus adds automatic milk frothing to a tiny footprint. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone who wants cafe-style drinks without teh complexity or counter space of a larger machine. This guide will help you see if its features match your morning routine.
Size and Kitchen Real Estate
How much space do you really have next to the kettle? The Bambino Plus is remarkably compact. It fits easily on a small counter or in a tight corner, making it ideal for apartments or shared kitchens. You won’t need to sacrifice other appliances to make room for it.
Milk Frothing: Manual vs. Automatic
This is the Bambino Plus’s standout feature. You can choose. For hands-on control, use the manual steam wand. But for true convenience, its automatic frother is a game-changer. Just set your desired milk texture and temperature—it does the rest. No more guessing or burning your milk. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone in a hurry.
Speed to First Coffee
Waiting three minutes for a machine to heat up can feel like an eternity when you’re tired. The Bambino Plus uses ThermoJet heating, which gets you to the ideal brewing temperature in just 3 seconds. You press the button and start pulling a shot almost immediately. That speed is a major quality-of-life improvement on busy mornings.
Pressure and Pre-Infusion
A good espresso needs consistent pressure. The machine uses a 15-bar Italian pump for that essential crema. More importantly, it features low-pressure pre-infusion. This gently wets the coffee puck first, leading to a more even and flavorful extraction. It’s a smart bit of tech that helps ensure your coffee tastes balanced, not bitter.
Included Accessories
What’s in the box matters. Breville includes a good set of tools to get you started: a 54mm portafilter, both single and dual-wall filter baskets (for pre-ground or fresh coffee), a stainless steel milk jug, and a razor tool for dosing. You won’t need to buy extra essentials right away, which helps keep the overall cost down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
Is the Breville Bambino good for beginners?
Yes, it’s a fantastic first machine. It has automatic features like a 3-second heat-up and auto milk frothing. This lets you focus on learning to grind coffee and tamp without worrying to much about complex settings.
Do I need a special grinder for it?
You absolutely need a good espresso grinder. Pre-ground coffee or a blade grinder won’t work well. Look for a burr grinder that can make fine, consistent powder. It’s key for getting that rich crema on top.
How does the milk frother work?
The Bambino uses an automatic steam wand. You just place the wand in your milk jug and press a button. It steams and froths the milk to a good temperature and texture, which is great for lattes.
What’s the difference between the Bambino and Bambino Plus?
The main difference is the milk system. The Bambino Plus has more automated milk frothing with customizable texture and temperature. The standard Bambino has a simpler auto-froth function. The Plus also has a slightly larger water tank.
Can I use coffee pods with it?
Yes, you can. The machine comes with dual filter baskets. One is for ground coffee, and the other is for single-serve espresso pods. This gives you flexibility depending on your mood or time.
Is it hard to clean and maintain?
Not really. The drip tray and water tank remove easily for rinsing. The machine will prompt you to run a cleaning cycle, which is simple. Just remember to backflush the group head with a cleaning tablet occasionally for best results.
Does it make true espresso?
Yes, it creates authentic espresso at the proper 9 bars of pressure. This is the pressure needed to extract the full flavor from your coffee grounds. The taste is excellent when you use fresh beans and a proper grind.
Our Final Words
Choosing teh right espresso machine is about finding a balance. You want something that feels approachable but still makes a great drink. It should fit your routine without demanding too much counter space or time to learn. For many people, that sweet spot is hard to hit.
If that sounds like your goal, the breville bambino espresso machine is a strong contender. It gets the fundamentals right and works with you. You can start simple and grow into its features. In the end, it’s a tool that helps you make a really good coffee at home, and that’s a pretty great result for any morning.